title: Efficacy of a bio-electric dressing in healing deep, partial-thickness wounds using a porcine model ﻿.
abstract: ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿Numerous physical modalities have been used in attempts to augment the healing process, including ultrasound, low- energy light therapy, and electrical stimulation (ES). ES has been shown to benefit tissue repair in a variety of wound types, but variations in study designs, administration, and parameters render its application in clinical practice somewhat unconventional. A dressing was designed to generate an electric potential of 0.6 V to 0.7 V in the presence of moisture, thereby delivering a sustained micro-current without the need for an external power source. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of this bio-electric dressing (BED) on deep, partial-thickness wounds using six female specific pathogen-free animals and a well established porcine model for wound healing. Wounds (10 mm x 7 mm x 0.5 mm) were created in paravertebral and thoracic areas of these animals using a specialized electrokeratome and covered with the active polyester BED and a polyurethane film dressing (n = 30) (treatment) or an inactive polyester and film dressing (n = 30). Using an epidermal migration assay, wounds were assessed daily from day 4 through day 8 post-wounding. Differences in the proportion of wounds healed were statistically significant (P <0.001) on days 5 and 6 post-wounding. These results show BED is more effective than a control dressing treatment with moisture-retentive dressings in this animal model. Controlled clinical studies are warranted to elucidate the potential clinical implications of this treatment modality.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valdes
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solis
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D023421:Models, Animal; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing