[The therapeutic effect of nanometer silver impregnated dressing on gunshot wounds after being immersed in brine and tapwater in rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic effect of nanometer silver impregnated dressing on gunshot wounds after being immersed in brine and tapwater in rabbits.


METHODS
Rabbits were randomly divided into two groups after receiving gunshot wounds in both lower limbs. In group 1, the wounded limbs on the experimental side were immersed in brine for 5 h; in group 2, the wounded limbs on experimental side were immersed in tapwater for 5 h. All the wounds were treated with nanometer silver impregnated dressing on the experimental sides, while those of the control sides were treated with vaseline dressing. Biopsy was done after 30 min and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 h, respectively.


RESULTS
In group 1, the onset of inflammation around the wounds of the experimental sides was delayed, the inflammatory response was less serious, and the wounds were dry with less exudation compared to the controls. The mean healing time of the entry wounds on experimental and control sides was (29.4 +/- 6.6) d and (36.3 +/- 6.0) d (P < 0.01), respectively, and that of the exit wounds on experimental and control sides was (20.1 +/- 6.0) d and (27.3 +/- 5.7) d (P < 0.01), respectively. In group 2, only one of the experimental wounds showed mild inflammation, while all of the control wounds showed serious inflammation with much exudation. The mean healing time of the entry wounds on experimentsides was (13.0 +/- 1.52) d, while that on control sides was (16.0 +/- 3.10) d (P < 0.01). The mean healing time of exit wounds on experimental sides was (11.0 +/- 2.75) d, and those of the control sides was (15.6 +/- 2.85) d (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The nanometer silver impregnated dressing can control infection and accelerate healing in gunshot wounds in rabbits.
Chen
Bi
B
Department of Burns surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China. burns@fmmu.edu.cn
Ding
Guo-bin
GB
Tang
Chao-wu
CW
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001458:Bandages; D005260:Female; D007101:Immersion; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012492:Salts / Q000009:adverse effects; D012623:Seawater / Q000009:adverse effects; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D012492:Salts; C017082:brine; D014867:Water; D012834:Silver