Effectiveness of the combination of fat grafting and injection on radiation ulcer healing.

ABSTRACT

Fat injections aid in the healing of radiation-induced skin damage. We hypothesized that the direct application of fat grafts to the surfaces of radiation-induced ulcers is also effective. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination treatment comprising fat injections around ulcers and fat grafts on ulcer surfaces. The dorsal skin of inbred rats was irradiated at a single dose of 20 Gy before producing ulcers. After the inguinal fat was harvested using the Coleman technique, the rats were divided into four groups Group 1, ulcer wounds were covered using dressing materials and staples only; Group 2, fat was injected around the ulcers using a cannula; Group 3, fat was grafted onto ulcer surfaces; and Group 4, a combination of fat injection around the ulcers and fat grafts onto ulcer surfaces was employed. The mean healing time (± standard deviation) of each group was as follows Group 1, 16.0 ± 2.2 days; Group 2, 14.5 ± 2.0 days; Group 3, 15.2 ± 1.7 days; and Group 4, 13.4 ± 1.0 days. The healing time of Group 4 was significantly shorter than that of Group 1 (p = .0005) and Group 3 (p = .023). In both groups that received fat grafts, fat tissue was observed in the dermis on hematoxylin-eosin-stained slides at 4 and 8 weeks after the ulcers were created. In conclusion, the combination treatment of fat grafted onto ulcer surfaces and injected around ulcers was effective in accelerating the epithelization of radiation-induced ulcers.