Introduction

Biomaterials have become critical components in the development of effective new medical therapies for wound care. As limitations of previous generations of biologically derived materials are overcome, many new and impressive applications for biomaterials are being examined. A new biomaterial was first discovered in 1987 at Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) when researchers were evaluating various biological materials as blood conduits. This biomaterial was derived from small intestine submucosa (SIS). The SIS biomaterial has since been developed into several medical

Introduction

     Chronic pressure ulcers are significant health problems, especially for patients in long-term care facilities. Pressure ulcers reduce quality of life and may lead to infection, pain, and death. Estimates of the prevalence of pressure ulcers in nursing home patients range from 3 to 28 percent,1–3 with an annual incidence of 2 to 13 percent.4–6 Reducing the proportion of nursing home residents with pressure ulcers is receiving increasing public health attention and is one of the Healthy People 2010 Objectives.7

  &nbs

Introduction

Coumadin-induced skin necrosis (CISN) is a rare, unusual, and unpredictable integumentary complication of anticoagulant therapy. Also known as warfarin-induced skin necrosis (WISN), the dermatologic complication occurs in 0.01 to 0.1 percent of warfarin-treated patients. As anticoagulation is a component of therapy for many major chronic illnesses, recognition of the condition is crucial for prompt intervention in clinical practice. The syndrome also can result in substantial morbidity and possible fatality. This article addresses the historical background, pathogenesis, clinic

The definitive history of the transplantation of human tissues, or animal tissues for that matter, is shrouded in the mists of antiquity. Numerous authors referred to tissue transplantation centuries before the birth of Christ. Fata writes that the earliest recorded plastic surgery operation was done by a surgeon named Sushruta (or Susruta) in India perhaps as early as 700 years B.C.^1–3 Sushruta is considered the father of plastic surgery in India and is credited by some as being simply “the father of surgery.” There is some evidence that reconstruction of the nos

Introduction In recent years, substantive basic science and clinical research have been conducted to evaluate the mechanisms of wound healing, the efficacy of various modalities for treatment of wounds, and the best methods for diagnosing wound infection. A great deal of this effort has been directed toward evaluating the most accurate and reproducible methods for diagnosing chronic wound infection. From the surface, this seems like a fairly simple clinical question. However, it quickly becomes apparent that this question is quite involved. For example, chronic wounds often harbor bacteria

     Vacuum-assisted closure, or negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), is being used increasingly to treat chronic and complicated wounds since its effectiveness was documented in a pig model.^1,2

Pulsatile lavage is a high-pressure wound irrigation system commonly used in operating rooms and wound care facilities. The system consists of a battery-powered device which delivers a pressurized sterile crystalloid solution to the wound bed at usually no greater than 15 psi. The device administers a fluid stream to the wound surface and has a built-in suction tube that concurrently removes the fluid as it is dispensed. A small circular shield is attached to the nozzle of the device, which serves to decrease gross splash when placed in contact with the wound bed. Tubing connects the devic

I am pleased to address the readership of Wounds on this occasion of the second issue dedicated to animal models and their roles in wound repair and infection. I would like to take the Reader through a recent set of published experiments that examined a new experimental bandage using both the preclinical and clinical wound healing and infection models of our laboratory.

This device was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the over-the-counter consumer and was launched in January of this year. The name of the device is Band-Aid® Liquid Bandage, LAB. It is being marketed b

Introduction

Diabetic foot ulceration is a major complication of diabetes mellitus.1–5 Among the 10 to 15 million diabetic patients, two to three percent will develop foot ulcers each year, and approximately 15 percent will develop foot ulcers during their lifetimes.4,6–8 The four percent of the US population with diagnosed diabetes mellitus constitute 46 percent of the approximately 162,500 annual hospitalizations for foot ulcers.4,7 Foot ulcers precede 85 percent of all nontraumatic, lower-limb amputations, and half of all nontraumatic, lower-limb amputations in

Introduction

Management of partial-thickness burns of the face requires extensive healthcare resources, especially in the endotracheal-intubated patient, to control pain, avoid infection, and minimize scarring.1-4

Standard care for partial-thickness burns is the frequent application of antibiotic ointments and cleansing to avoid exudate buildup and infection.3,4 This process is not only time consuming but requires considerable analgesia and involves the potential for endotracheal tube dislodgement with patient movement.

Immediate wound closure of the partial-thickness facial burn can