In vitro measurements of burn dressing adherence and the effect of interventions on reducing adherence.
OBJECTIVE
There is a paucity of research on reducing dressing adherence. This is partly due to lack of an in vitro model, recreating the clinical variability of wounds. Previously we described an in vitro gelatin model to evaluate adherence in a standardized manner. We present evaluation of strategies to reduce adherence in six dressings.


METHODS
Dressing materials used were: PET (Control), fine mesh gauze coated in bismuth and petroleum jelly (BIS), nanocrystalline silver (NS), wide mesh polyester coated in polysporin ointment (WM), fine mesh cellulose acetate coated in polysporin ointment (FM), and soft silicone mesh (SIL). The dressing material was applied to gelatin and incubated for 24h. Adherence was tested using an Instron 5965 force-measurement device. Testing was repeated with various adherence reducing agents: water, surfactant, and mineral oil.


RESULTS
Adherence from least to greatest was: SIL, NS, BIS, WM, FM, PET. Water reduced adherence in all dressings; the effect increasing with exposure time. Surfactant reduced adherence of NS. Mineral oil effectively decreased adherence of BIS, and WM.


CONCLUSIONS
This model allows for reproducible measurement of dressing adherence. Different interventions affect various dressings. No single intervention optimally decreases adherence for all dressings.
Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Michal
M
Brichacek
Department of Textile Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Chenxi
C
Ning
Manitoba Firefighters Burn Unit, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Justin P
JP
Gawaziuk
Department of Textile Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Song
S
Liu
Department of Surgery, Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Manitoba Firefighters Burn Unit, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; Department of Surgery and Children's Health, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Electronic address: logsetty@cc.umanitoba.ca.
Sarvesh
S
Logsetty
D001458:Bandages / Q000592:standards*; D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D008899:Mineral Oil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008954:Models, Biological; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014867:Water
D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D014867:Water; D008899:Mineral Oil; D005780:Gelatin
Adherence; Burns; Dressing; Gelatin; In vitro model