Silver deposits in cutaneous burn scar tissue is a common phenomenon following application of a silver dressing
2009
Wang, X. | Chang, H. | Francis, R. | Olszowy, H. | Liu, P. | Kempf, M. | Cuttle, L. | Kravchuk, O. | Phillips, G. | Kimble, R.
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.
Show more [+] Less [-]Xue-Qing Wang, Hong-En Chang, Rod Francis, Henry Olszowy, Pei-Yun Liu, Margit Kempf, Leila Cuttle, Olena Kravchuk, Gael E. Phillips and Roy M. Kimble
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