Effects of bovine amniotic membrane graft on healing of full-thickness skin wound in dogs

소양막이식편이 개의 전층 피부 창상치유에 미치는 효과

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of bovine amniotic membrane grafts on healing of full-thickness skin wound in dogs. Two $3cm{\times}3cm$ area-matched full-thickness skin wounds were induced bilaterally on the dorsolateral aspect of the trunk of 15 dogs. Chlorhexidine-treated amnion, dried amnion, silver sulfadiazine and 0.9% sterile saline solution were applied on the wound area and examined grossly and histopathologically. Begining 14 days after wounding, amnion applied group had appreciably less amount of inflammatory exudate and hemorrhage than sulfadiazine and saline treated groups. From 14 days after wounding, the degree of wound contraction in amnion groups, especially in the dried amnion group was greater than that of the sulfadiazine and saline treated groups. The percentages of wounds completely healed on 28 days after wounding in saline treated group, chlorhexidine-treated amnion group, dried amnion group and sulfadiazine treated group were 33%, 50%, 83% and 50%, respectively. Microscopically neovascularization and fibrosis were first noticed on 5 days after wounding in the dried amnion group and sulfadiazine treated group, on 7 days in the chlorhexidine-treated amnion group and on 14 days in the saline treated group. Epithelialization in the dried amnion and sulfadiazine treated groups was first noticed on 9 days after wounding, which was faster than that in the other groups. The present study suggests that bovine amniotic membrane, especially dried bovine amnion is effective on healing of full-thickness skin wound in dogs through both wound contraction and epithelialization.