[Sequential management of residual wounds in burn patients].

Objective: To seek a sequential method for the management of residual wounds in burn patients.
Methods: Three chronic residual wounds on each of 25 burn patients were either covered with vaseline gauze (A group), human tissue-engineered active skin (Active Skin, B group) or Active Skin after rinsing with fluid containing oxygen and vacuum assisted drainage ( C group) on wounds. The contents of (TNF)a in granulation tissue were assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) mRNA in granulation tissue was determined with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Moreover, quantity of wound bacteria in the wounds and wound healing rate were determined with usual method.
Results: The quantities of wound bacteria in C group on 3,6,9, 12 post-treatment day( PTD) were (5.30 +/- 1.60), (1.30 +/-0.80) , (1.70 +/- 0. 60)and (0.60 +/-0. 10)clone formation unit/ml( CFU/ml) , respectively, which were obviously lower than those in A and B groups. The contents of TNFa and expression of metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) mRNA in granulation tissue in C group on 6 PTD were [ (0. 650 +/- 0. 040) ng/mg and 0. 210 +/- 0. 010,] ,respectively, and they were evidently lower than those in A group [(1.550 +/-0. 370)ng/mg,1. 040 +/- 0. 050, P <0.01] and B group (0. 810 +/- 0.080) ng/mg, 0.640 +/- 0.030, P <0.01]. Meanwhile, the contents of (TNF)a and expression of MMP-13 mRNA in B group were also obviously lower than those in A group. The wound healing ratio in C group on 15 and 30 PTD were markedly higher than those in A or B group ( P <0.01).
Conclusion: Covering the residual burn wounds with Active Skin after rinsing with fluid containing oxygen followed by vacuum assisted drainage can improve repairing of residual burn wounds.