• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 2008

Purpose: Open fractures of the foot and ankle require prompt repair of the wound due to the complexity of anatomy, insufficiency of soft tissues and inadequate blood supply. Early flaps and skin grafts are used for this purpose yet general condition of the patient as well as local wound environment often precludes such treatment options. Vacuum- Assisted Closure (VAC) is recently being used in such cases. This study was done to validate the use of VAC together with silver antimicrobial dressing materials in contaminated open fracture wounds. Materials and Methods: We have selected 10 patients with Gustillo-Anderson type III open fractures of the foot & ankle treated with VAC and silver antimicrobial dressing materials from March 2007 to January 2008. The relationship between duration of treatment with wound size, contamination, and degree of soft tissue damage was analyzed. Results: The average age of patients was 36.6 years. The average amount of VAC application time was 23.4 days. Silver dressing materials were used for 16.8 days. Average wound healing time was 51.9 days. Statistically significant relationship was found between wound size, VAC application time and silver dressing material application time. No complications such as osteomyelitis were found after treatment. Conclusion: VAC technique is recently being used in open fractures with wide skin and soft tissue defects, producing good results. A wide array of dressing materials such as silver dressing is in development. We have incorporated the VAC technique together with silver dressing materials in the treatment of open fractures and achieved complication free results.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of self-home dressing with nanocrystalline silver dressing method on the treatment of chronic ulcer wounds of the foot. Material and Methods: One hundred-nine patients with chronic foot ulcer due to various causes were treated with nanocrystalline silver dressing material. Dressing was done by themselves in their home. Dressing changes were performed every 2 to 3 days until complete reepithelization. Results: One hundred two cases of all cases had a complete reepithelization. It took 49 days to have a complete reepithelization on average. Seven cases failed to complete reepithelization because of infection. There was no silver intoxication in any cases. Conclusion: Using nanocrystalline silver is a useful dressing method for various superficial chronic ulcer and it can be done by themselves at their home. Thus it is considered to be more comfortable to both patients and doctors.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2007

Purpose: $Allevyn^{(R)}$(Smith & Nephew, England) is a type of polyurethane foam material with good wound discharge absorption. $Acticoat^{(R)}$(Smith & Nephew, England) is a silver coated dressing material which is effective in infected wound. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of dry gauze, $Acticoat^{(R)}$ and $Allevyn^{(R)}$ on infected full-thickness wound healing in rat. Methods: One hundred and twenty rats were divided into 3 groups: group I(dressing with dry gauze, n=40), group II(dressing with $Allevyn^{(R)}$, n=40), group III(dressing with $Acticoat^{(R)}$, n=40). A $15{\times}15mm$ square full-thickness wound was made on the dorsum and left open for 24 hours. The size of wound defects were measured each dressing changes. The histological evaluation was performed on the 3rd day, 7th day, 14th day, 21th day. Results: After the wound was left open for 24 hours, typical findings of bacterial infection was observed. After the 7th day, group III showed larger area of epithelialization, smaller defect size compared to those of two other groups. Complete replacement by fibrotic scar tissue was observed in group III with no signs of inflammation on the 14th day. By day 21, the average defect size in group III was decreased from initial 100% to 3.63%. while in group I and II, it was decreased to 62.66% and 53.62%, respectively. Conclusion: $Acticoat^{(R)}$ is an effective tool in the treatment of infected wound.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.491-495
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• 2005

In partial thickness burn injuries, silver sulfadiazine cream 1%(SSD, $Silvadene^{(R)}$) is the most commonly used topical agent worldwide. But silver sulfadiazine cream 1% has no exudate absorption property. Usually after escar is removed from wound surface, $Silvadene^{(R)}$ is changed to saline wet gauze dressing to promote epithelization. $Aquacel^{(R)}$(ConvaTec, UK) is a 100% sodium carboxymethylcellulose Hydrofiber material. It absorbs exudates directly into the hydrofibers by vertical wicking which allows rapid uptake of liquid into the fibers. The absorbed exudate fluid can be distributed to the entire dressing rather than just over the wound surface, which results in larger fluid absorption capacity. From April, 2003 to July, 2004 a study was done with 40 patients who had variable partial thickness burns. $Aquacel^{(R)}$ dressing was compared in 21 cases to silver sulfadiazine cream 1% and saline wet gauze dressings in 19 cases. In the $Aquacel^{(R)}$ cases, the average healing time on the face was $5.36{\pm}1.69$ a day; on the hands was $8.46{\pm}2.15$ a day; and, on the neck was $6.0{\pm}2.0$ a day. With the $Silvadene^{(R)}$ and Saline wet gauze dressing, the average healing time on the face was $6.44{\pm}1.74$ a day; on the hands was $13.79{\pm}5.35$ a day; and, on the neck was $11.17{\pm}3.31$ a day. As a result, the $Aquacel^{(R)}$ group showed a shorter healing time compared to the $Silvadene^{(R)}$ and saline wet gauze dressing group and patients were satisfied because of less pain and improved comfort. In conclusion, $Aquacel^{(R)}$ is a better choice for partial thickness burn injuries because of shorter healing time, less pain and more confortable dressing.