title: Evaluation of commonly used temporary skin dressings and a newly developed collagen matrix for treatment of superficial wounds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the authors' experience, extended superficial-thickness wounds often were treated with the application of synthetic temporary wound dressings. There is a broad range of expensive products available in this market. The aim of this study was to compare commonly used temporary skin dressings with a newly developed collagen matrix.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 56 standardized superficial skin defects were generated on the back of 28 adult male Lewis rats using a skin dermatome. The wounds were treated with Biobrane (Smith & Nephew, St Petersburg, Florida) (n = 14), Suprathel (PolyMedics, Denkendorf, Germany) (n = 14), and newly developed Collagen Cell Carrier (Naturin Viscofan, Weinheim, Germany) (CCC; n = 14). Histological evaluation was performed at 3 months' postoperative in regard to quality of newly formed skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In regard to epidermal cell count and thickness of skin, Biobrane and Suprathel demonstrated comparable values, whereas CCC demonstrated higher epidermal cell count and thicker neoepidermis. The epidermal thickness of CCC was comparable to untreated, healthy skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presented results reveal the potential of CCC in the treatment of superficial skin defects and encourages further evaluation of CCC in surgical applications and regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Manuel Held, MD, is a Plastic Surgeon; Jens Rothenberger, MD, is a Plastic Surgeon; Anne-Sophie Engelke is a student; Dascha Sophie Tolzmann is a student; Babak Janghorban Esfahani, MD, is a Plastic Surgeon; and Hans-Eberhard Schaller, MD, is the Hospital Director, all at BG-Trauma Center, Eberhard Karls University, Tuebingen, Germany, and Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Tuebingen, Germany. Afshin Rahmanian-Schwarz, MD, is the Hospital Director at HELIOS Klinikum Wuppertal GmbH, University Hospital Witten/Herdecke, Germany, Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Wuppertal, Germany.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Held
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rothenberger
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Engelke
authors.forename: Dascha Sophie
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Tolzmann
authors.forename: Babak Janghorban
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Esfahani
authors.forename: Hans-Eberhard
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmanian-Schwarz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011091:Polyesters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017768:Skin, Artificial
chemical_list: C042816:Biobrane; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011091:Polyesters; C527789:poly(lactide-co-trimethylenecarbonate-co-epsilon-caprolactone); D003094:Collagen