We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Silver deposits in cutaneous burn scar tissue is a common phenomenon following application of a silver dressing.
- Authors
Wang, Xue-Qing; Chang, Hong-En; Francis, Rod; Olszowy, Henry; Liu, Pei-Yun; Kempf, Margit; Cuttle, Leila; Kravchuk, Olena; Phillips, Gael E.; Kimble, Roy M.
- Abstract
Background: Silver dressings have been widely and successfully used to prevent cutaneous wounds, including burns, chronic ulcers, dermatitis and other cutaneous conditions, from infection. However, in a few cases, skin discolouration or argyria-like appearances have been reported. This study investigated the level of silver in scar tissue post-burn injury following application of Acticoat™, a silver dressing. Methods: A porcine deep dermal partial thickness burn model was used. Burn wounds were treated with this silver dressing until completion of re-epithelialization, and silver levels were measured in a total of 160 scars and normal tissues. Results: The mean level of silver in scar tissue covered with silver dressings was 136 μg/g, while the silver level in normal skin was less than 0.747 μg/g. A number of wounds had a slate-grey appearance, and dissection of the scars revealed brown-black pigment mostly in the middle and deep dermis within the scar. The level of silver and the severity of the slate-grey discolouration were correlated with the length of time of the silver dressing application. Conclusions: These results show that silver deposition in cutaneous scar tissue is a common phenomenon, and higher levels of silver deposits and severe skin discolouration are correlated with an increase in the duration of this silver dressing application.
- Subjects
BURNS &; scalds; SURGICAL dressings; SKIN discoloration; SCARS; SILVER; ARGYRIA; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, 2009, Vol 36, Issue 7, p788
- ISSN
0303-6987
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0560.2008.01141.x