Microcurrent for Healing Autogenous Skin Donor Sites

Not Applicable

Completed

Interventions: Device: Microcurrent stimulator
Device: Silverlon Wound Contact Dressing

Brief Summary: This single-center, prospective, randomized, and controlled study evaluated the efficacy of silver-coated dressing with active microcurrent in comparison to silver-coated dressing with sham microcurrent on wound-closure time for autogenous skin donor sites.

Detailed Description: The specific aims of the study are to evaluate the impact of active versus sham direct microcurrent application to silver nylon dressings in the treatment of donor sites for partial thickness thermal injuries. The primary endpoint is wound-closure time (re-epithelialization of 90% or more of wound surface). A secondary endpoint was infection. Exploratory assessments of clinical outcomes, including inflammation, and pain medication (type, dosage, route, timing) will also be conducted.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

between 18-65 years of age
burn less than 30% total body surface area
burns not involving donor site area
you need skin grafting to cover burns
agree not to use other electronic devices that generate current during your study participation
agree to come back for follow up visits at least every other day after discharge from hospital until donor site is healed

Exclusion Criteria

you have an illness that may affect how your wound heals such as diabetes, blood clotting disorder, cirrhosis, liver failure, peripheral vascular disease
you are taking medications that could affect how your wound heals such as steroids, Plavix, Coumadin
you have an infection of the skin or your bloodstream
you are pregnant or nursing
you are sensitive or allergic to silver or nylon
your burn wounds are more than 30% of your total body surface area
your site was previously harvested for grafting
you have an implantable pacemaker device

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Microcurrent Stimulator + Silverlon	Microcurrent stimulator	Patients receiving active electrical stimulation (15-50 microamps) during treatment of skin donor sites with Silverlon wound contact dressing. Intervention is active electrical stimulation via microcurrent stimulator.
Silverlon alone	Silverlon Wound Contact Dressing	Patients receiving treatment of skin donor sites with Silverlon wound contact dressing alone (i.e., without active electrical stimulation)
Microcurrent Stimulator + Silverlon	Silverlon Wound Contact Dressing	Patients receiving active electrical stimulation (15-50 microamps) during treatment of skin donor sites with Silverlon wound contact dressing. Intervention is active electrical stimulation via microcurrent stimulator.

Primary Outcome Measures