Swab cultures of wounds are noninvasive and most laboratories are capable of semiquantitatively processing these specimens. This study examined the diagnostic validity of semiquantitative swab cultures obtained using Levine’s technique and compared semiquantitative and quantitative swab cultures. Two swab specimens were obtained from a sample of 44 chronic wounds using Levine’s technique. One was processed using quantitative laboratory procedures and the other using semiquantitative laboratory procedures. The diagnostic validity of the findings from each swab culture process was determined by associating the culture findings of each with quantitative tissue cultures (reference standard) using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and by evaluating concordance. The area under the curve (AUC) of the semiquantitative swab culture was 0.639, which was not significantly higher than the .50 diagonal chance (P = 0.0501), suggesting a non-informative test. The AUC for quantitative swa

This study examined the effects of silver-releasing wound dressing on angiogenesis and microvascularization in vivo. Implants from silver-releasing and silver-free dressings were placed into dorsal skinfold chambers of BALB/c mice. A total of 30 animals (10 implants per group) were observed. Group 1 was treated with Contreet® (Coloplast, Holtedam, Denmark). Group 2 and Group 3 were primed with Biatain™ (Coloplast, Holtedam, Denmark) and SeaSorb Soft® (Coloplast, Holtedam, Denmark). Visualization of angiogenesis and quantification of functional vessel density (FVD) was performed using intravital fluorescence microscopy (IFM). Functional vessel density served as the parameter for vascularization. Functional vessel density was measured on Day 3, 7, and 12 after implantation. Intravital fluorescence microscopy revealed constant development of a sufficient network of perfused microvessels surrounding the silver-based implants. Group 1 showed a stronger morphological alteration of microvesse

Free scapular flaps are suitable for many lower extremity applications and often provide excellent contour reproduction and appearance. However, when the soft tissue defect of the lower leg is extensive and complicated there may not be vessels in the recipient site suitable to be anastomosed. A cross-leg pedicled free flap technique can be applied in this situation. This study extends the indications and reports a successful experience using cross-leg pedicled free scapular flap to cover an extensive soft tissue defect with tibial bone exposure of the lower leg. This study involved 24 patients between May 2000 and October 2005. Wounds were caused by accident (6 patients), burn (2 patients), electrical injury (3 patients), and fall (2 patients). The defects ranged in size from 8 cm x 15 cm to 15 cm x 30 cm. All patients were treated with free scapular flaps to cover the defects and the vessels of the free scapular flaps were anastomosed with the dorsalis pedis vessels of contralateral l