The effect of pentoxifylline in treatment of skin degloving injuries: an experimental study.
BACKGROUND
Management of skin degloving injuries is still a problematic issue and the avulsed part of the skin may become necrotic. In this pilot study, we attempted to develop an experimental model for degloving injuries and investigated the efficacy of pentoxifylline, a well-known potent agent in enhancement of erythrocyte flexibility and tissue vascularization, in treatment of this injury model.


METHODS
Degloving injuries were created in 15 rats' tails by circular puncturing of the skin at the middle of the tail and then applying moderate force to avulse the skin from the underlying tissue. Then, the skin was repaired back to its original position. No treatment was given in the first group (n=6). In the second group (n=3), 0.4cm(3) physiological serum was administered intraperitoneally for 10 days. In the third group (n=6), intraperitoneal 25mg/kg pentoxifylline was administered for 10 days. Tails were observed daily for 21 days and then examined histopathologically.


RESULTS
At the end of the study, the avulsed segment of the skin became cyanotic and ulcerated in the first and the second group, and in the third group, the skin was intact. In histopathological examination, loss of superficial ephitelium and dense infiltration of inflammatory cells were seen in groups 1 and 2, and the skin layers were normal in the group 3.


CONCLUSIONS
Pentoxifylline improved tissue preservation and was proved to be highly beneficial in treatment of skin degloving injuries.
Oztuna
Volkan
V
Department of Orthopaedics, Mersin University School of Medicine, Ihsaniye Mah, 4935 Sokak No. 3, 33079 Mersin, Turkey. oztuna67@mersin.edu.tr
Eskandari
Metin M
MM
Unal
Sakir
S
Colak
Mehmet
M
Karabacak
Tuba
T
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline