Do functional keratin dressings accelerate epithelialization in human partial thickness wounds? A randomized controlled trial on skin graft donor sites.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the experimental (keratin-based) dressing accelerates epithelialization rates during healing of partial-thickness wounds, relative to a Standard Care dressing.


METHODS
A randomized control trial was conducted using a Standard Care dressing side by side with the experimental dressing on a sample (n=26) of partial-thickness donor site wounds. The proximal/distal placement of the control and treatment was randomized. Percentage epithelialization after approximately 7 days was estimated from which time to fully epithelialize can be inferred. Patients were grouped into "young" (≤50 y/o) and "old" (>50 y/o).


RESULTS
For the "old" patients (n=15), the median epithelialization percentage at 7 days is 5% and was significantly (P=.023) greater for the experimental dressing. For the "young" patients (n=11), the median epithelialization percentage at 7 days was 80% and there is no significant difference between the experimental and Standard Care control dressings.


CONCLUSIONS
The experimental dressing significantly increases the rate of epithelialization of acute, traumatic partial-thickness wounds in older patients. We suggest that the dressing may be clinically useful in similar situations where epithelialization may be delayed because of patient or wound characteristics.
Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Andrew
A
Davidson
N Hamesh
NH
Jina
Clive
C
Marsh
Martin
M
Than
Jeremy W
JW
Simcock
acute wounds; donor site; epithelialization; keratin; partial thickness wounds