[Experimental and clinical experiences with the synthetic skin cover of polyvinylalcohol-formaldehyde foam (PVA)]

Animal experimental research and clinical experience in polyvinylalcohol formaldehyde foam (PVA) as a temporary skin cover: The usefulness of PVA as a temporary skin cover of burns and infected wounds was studied in animals. On the back of 20 pigs full thickness burns were produced and wounds were infected, then examined macroscopically, histologically and bacteriologically over a period of 18 days. PVA showed a better wound cleansing, a significantly reduced bacterial flora and a more rapid growth of the epithelium in comparison with three other materials. The clinical use of PVA in the treatment of compound fractures with a severe damage of soft tissue, of infected wounds and of burns also demonstrated a quick cleansing of the wound and an induction of a dense and vascularised granulation tissue. Thus considerable infections could be avoided and early grafting was possible.