Lin-Gwei Wei
Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
Title: 500-gray γ-irradiation may increase adhesion strength of lyophilized cadaveric split-thickness skin graft to wound bed
Biography
Biography: Lin-Gwei Wei
Abstract
Background: Human cadaveric skin grafts are considered as the “gold standard” for temporary wound coverage because they provide a more conductive environment for natural wound healing. Lyophilization, packing, and terminal sterilization with gamma-ray can facilitate the application of cadaveric split-thickness skin grafts, but may alter the adhesion properties of the grafts. In a pilot study, we found that 500 gray (Gy) gamma-irradiation (γ-irradiation) seemed not to reduce the adherence between the grafts and wound beds.
Aim and Objectives: We conducted this experiment to compare the adherences of lyophilized, 500-Gy-γ-irradiated skin grafts to that of lyophilized, non-irradiated grafts.
Materials and Methods: Pairs of wounds were created over the backs of 12 Sprague Dawley rats. Pairs of “lyophilized, 500-Gy-γ-irradiated” and “lyophilized, non-irradiated” cadaveric split-thickness skin grafts were fixed to the wound beds. Adhesion strength between the grafts and the wound beds were measured and compared.
Results: On post-skin-graft day 7 and day 10, the adhesion strength of γ-irradiated grafts was greater than that of the non-irradiated grafts.
Conclusion: Because lyophilized cadaveric skin grafts can be vascularized and the collagen of its dermal component can be remodeled after grafting, the superior adhesion strength of 500-Gy-γ-irradiated grafts can be explained by the collagen changes from irradiation