MedPath

Molecular, Histologic, and Clinical Analysis of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) for Split-thickness Skin Graft (STSG) Donor Sites

Not Applicable
Withdrawn
Conditions
Burns
Split-thickness Skin Graft Donor Sites
Registration Number
NCT02712164
Lead Sponsor
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Brief Summary

The purpose of this single-center, randomized, prospective cohort study is to evaluate the clinical outcome and negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) mediated modulation of the biologic milieu of a modified NPWT dressing on split-thickness skin graft (STSG) donor sites.

Detailed Description

The investigators have designed a prospective randomized trial in which subjects will be assigned to a modified negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressing or standard moist dressing. The investigators will measure the percentage of re-epithelization at set postoperative time intervals using digital photography, pain using the visual analog scale (VAS), and healing quality using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). The investigators hypothesize that the NPWT will lead to less pain and increased re-epithelization in a shorter postoperative time course. This specific aim seeks to prove/disprove that patients who receive a modified NPWT dressing perceive the advantage with improved healing, pain, shorter length of stay, and other wound symptoms related to delayed donor site wound healing.

The donor site for STSGs provides a consistent model of superficial wounds that offers the opportunity to study both mechanisms of wound healing and potential mechanisms of action of NPWT. In patients undergoing both standard dressings and NPWT, the investigators will sample the wound exudate and perform microbiopsies of the healing wound at fixed intervals and perform histologic and molecular analysis in order to quantify the degree of re-epithelization and the trophic and inflammatory profile of the healing wound.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
WITHDRAWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
Not specified
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 18-60
  • Both genders are eligible for study
  • Written consent obtained from the subject or agent
  • Donor site wounds must not exceed 5% total body surface area (TBSA)
  • Subject must be receiving a split-thickness skin graft (STSG)
  • Donor site is amenable to either NPWT or standard of care (occlusive dressing)
  • Ability to comply with necessary wound care/follow up
Exclusion Criteria
  • Age <18 years
  • Subject has been diagnosed with Diabetes
  • Subject is a smoker
  • Subject takes steroids
  • Subject takes immunosuppressive medications
  • Subject with immunosuppressive disorders
  • Donor site wounds that exceed 5% total body surface area (TBSA)
  • Subject has sensitivity to silver or acrylic adhesives
  • Inability to comply with necessary wound care/follow up.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Tissue sample: re-epithelialization and granulation percentageAssessed up to 14 days

Tissue samples will be fixed and processed for hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E) staining and analyzed microscopically for re-epithelialization percentage.

Tissue sample: epidermal thicknessAssessed up to 14 days

Tissue samples will be fixed and processed for hematoxylin and eosin (H\&E) staining and analyzed microscopically for epidermal thickness.

Wound exudate: mRNA expressionAssessed up to 14 days

Wound exudate and tissue lysate will be subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for semi-quantitative analysis of mRNA expression.

Wound healing rate (re-epithelialization)Assessed up to 1 month

Evaluated by the investigator and by a blinded expert using photographs.

Wound exudate: protein contentAssessed up to 14 days

Quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) will allow analysis of target protein content.

Pain as measured by visual analog scale (VAS).Assessed up to 14 days
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Wound Healing QualityAssessed up to 1 month postoperatively

As measured by the Vancouver scar scale (VAS)

MedPath

Empowering clinical research with data-driven insights and AI-powered tools.

© 2025 MedPath, Inc. All rights reserved.