Back to Search
Start Over
In-vitro external fixation pin-site model proof of concept: A novel approach to studying wound healing in transcutaneous implants
- Source :
- Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine; April 2024, Vol. 238 Issue: 4 p403-411, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- External fixation is an essential surgical technique for treating trauma, limb lengthening and deformity correction, however infection is common, with infection rates ranging from 4.5 to 100% of cases. Throughout the literature researchers and clinicians have highlighted a relationship between excessive movement of the pin and skin and an increase in the patient’s risk of infection, however, currently no studies have addressed this role of pin-movement on pin-site wounds. This preliminary study describes a novel in vitro pin-site model, developed using a full-thickness human skin equivalent (HSE) model in conjunction with a bespoke mechanical system which simulates pin-movement. The effect of pin-movement on the wound healing response of the skin equivalents was assessed by measuring the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Six human skin equivalent models were divided into three test groups: no pin as the control, static pin-site wound and dynamic pin-site wound (n= 3). On day 3 concentrations of IL-1α and IL-8 showed a significant increase compared to the control when a static fixation pin was implanted into the skin equivalent (p< 0.05) and (p< 0.005) respectively. Levels of IL-1α and IL-8 increased further in the dynamic sample compared to the static sample (p< 0.05) and (p< 0.0005). This study demonstrates for the first time the application of HSE model to study external-fixation pin-movement in vitro. The results of this study demonstrated pin-movement has a negative effect on soft-tissue wound-healing, supporting the anecdotal evidence reported in the literature, however further analysis of wound heading would be required to verify this hypothesis.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09544119
- Volume :
- 238
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H: Journal of Engineering in Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- ejs65682562
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/09544119241234154