Silver deposits in cutaneous burn scar tissue is a common phenomenon following application of a silver dressing.
BACKGROUND
Silver dressings have been widely and successfully used to prevent cutaneous wounds, including burns, chronic ulcers, dermatitis and other cutaneous conditions, from infection. However, in a few cases, skin discolouration or argyria-like appearances have been reported. This study investigated the level of silver in scar tissue post-burn injury following application of Acticoat, a silver dressing.


METHODS
A porcine deep dermal partial thickness burn model was used. Burn wounds were treated with this silver dressing until completion of re-epithelialization, and silver levels were measured in a total of 160 scars and normal tissues.


RESULTS
The mean level of silver in scar tissue covered with silver dressings was 136 microg/g, while the silver level in normal skin was less than 0.747 microg/g. A number of wounds had a slate-grey appearance, and dissection of the scars revealed brown-black pigment mostly in the middle and deep dermis within the scar. The level of silver and the severity of the slate-grey discolouration were correlated with the length of time of the silver dressing application.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that silver deposition in cutaneous scar tissue is a common phenomenon, and higher levels of silver deposits and severe skin discolouration are correlated with an increase in the duration of this silver dressing application.
Wang
Xue-Qing
XQ
Department of Paediatrics, Child Health Royal Children's Hospital Burns Research Group, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. x.wang@uq.edu.au
Chang
Hong-En
HE
Francis
Rod
R
Olszowy
Henry
H
Liu
Pei-Yun
PY
Kempf
Margit
M
Cuttle
Leila
L
Kravchuk
Olena
O
Phillips
Gael E
GE
Kimble
Roy M
RM
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020405:Dermis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012834:Silver / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013552:Swine
C117408:Acticoat; D011091:Polyesters; D011095:Polyethylenes; D012834:Silver