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Case Reports
. 2018 Jun 12:7:Doc03.
doi: 10.3205/iprs000123. eCollection 2018.

Management of donor site infections in split-thickness skin graft with water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA)

Anas Aljasir  1 , Thomas Pierson  1 , Gerd Hoffmann  2 , Henrik Menke  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Management of donor site infections in split-thickness skin graft with water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA)

Anas Aljasir et al. GMS Interdiscip Plast Reconstr Surg DGPW. .

Abstract
in English, German

Infection of donor sites in split-thickness skin grafts is one of the complications of skin transplantation. Nutrition status and associated diseases play important roles in healing of donor sites. There are different ways used to treat infected donor sites. Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA), as a special form of heat radiation with a high tissue penetration and a low thermal load to the skin surface, can improve the healing of acute and chronic wounds both by thermal and thermic as well as by non-thermal and non-thermic effects. Water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA) increases tissue temperature, tissue oxygen partial pressure and tissue perfusion. These three factors are decisive for a sufficient supply of tissue with energy and oxygen and consequently also for wound healing and infection defense. This was confirmed in a case with a late severe healing disturbance of the donor sites after skin transplantation.

Infektion der Spenderstellen bei Spalthauttransplantationen stellt eine der Komplikationen von Hauttransplantationen dar. Ernährungsstatus und Begleiterkrankungen spielen eine wichtige Rolle bei der Heilung von Spenderstellen. Es gibt verschiedene Wege, infizierte Spenderstellen zu behandeln. Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA), eine spezielle Form der Wärmestrahlung mit hohem Eindringvermögen in das Gewebe bei geringer thermischer Oberflächenbelastung, kann die Heilung akuter und chronischer Wunden sowohl über thermische und temperaturabhängige als auch über nicht-thermische und temperaturunabhängige Effekte fördern. Wassergefiltertes Infrarot A (wIRA) steigert die Gewebetemperatur, den Gewebesauerstoffteildruck und die Gewebedurchblutung. Diese drei Faktoren sind entscheidend für eine ausreichende Versorgung des Gewebes mit Energie und Sauerstoff und entsprechend auch für Wundheilung und Infektiosabwehr. Dies wurde auch bei einem Fall einer schweren späten Heilungsstörung der Spenderstellen nach Hauttransplantation bestätigt.

Keywords: infection of donor site; skin transplantation; water-filtered infrared-A (wIRA).

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

GH was working for the Dr. med. h.c. Erwin Braun Foundation, Basel, a charitable, non-profit Swiss scientific foundation approved by the Swiss Federal Administration. The foundation supports clinical investigation of waterfiltered infrared-A. The foundation was not involved in any content- or decision-related aspect of the case report. GH is not and was not employed by a commercial company and has not received fees or grants by a commercial company in the field of water-filtered infrared-A. Therefore, GH declares that no conflicts of interest exist according to the guidelines of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. The three other authors declare to have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Severe healing disturbance with hypergranulation of the donor sites 8 months after split-skin transplantation operation in 61-year-old burn victim.
(A 1: left upper arm and left forearm, B 1: lateral and posterior parts of left thigh, C 1: anterior part of left thigh, D 1: left lower leg)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Donor sites after 5 weeks treatment with wIRA.
(A 2: left upper arm and left forearm: nearly healed; B 2: lateral and posterior parts of left thigh, C 2: anterior part of left thigh and D 2: left lower leg: totally healed donor sites)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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