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Wound Chambers for Porcine Wound Healing Research
Egro FM, Kim D, Repko A, Ziembicki JA, Marra K, Rubin JP
University of Pittsburgh
2018-01-29
Presenter: Francesco M. Egro MD, MSc, MRCS
Affidavit:
Vu T. Nguyen
Director Name: Vu T. Nguyen
Author Category: Resident Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Basic Science Research
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
Background: Standardized and reproducible animal models are crucial in medical research. Pigs are commonly used in burn wound healing studies because of the large surface area and similarities to human skin. However, the most significant challenge with porcine wound models remains the inability to isolate individual wounds and the high risk of cross-contamination. The aim of this study was to develop wound chambers for wound healing research.
Methods: The wound chamber was engineered as a two-piece structure (base and cover) to surround, isolate and cover individual porcine wounds. The wound chamber base was created using a SenSura click barrier secured using vetbond, Brava moldable ring and staples. The wound chamber cover was created by placing Tegaderm film over the base's ring and securing it with a SenSura pouch. Fifteen partial-thickness burn wounds were created on the back of a female Yorkshire pig to test the wound chambers and assess total wound closure, wound contraction, leakage, and cost.
Results: All wounds were closed by week 5 and no wound chamber leakage was observed. The wound chambers were easy to apply and maintain, and were impervious to the pig's activity. The animal tolerated them well. The average cost per wound chamber was $117.20.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the wound chambers provide a means for controlled monitoring, sampling and treatment of the wound in vivo. The wound chambers can be a standardized reproducible model for porcine wound healing research.
