Inhibition of wound contraction: comparison of full-thickness skin grafts, Biobrane, and aspartate membranes.

ABSTRACT

The mechanism by which open wounds contract is unknown. Although myofibroblasts are implicated in this natural process of wound healing, the evidence, however convincing, is only circumstantial. Control of wound contraction has been sought for many years, but only the application of full-thickness skin grafts is able to produce safe and effective clinical results. By comparing the synthetic skin substitute Biobrane and its component parts with full-thickness skin grafts in a rat wound model, we have demonstrated that dermis is not required for inhibition of wound contraction. We postulate that physical properties of skin and its synthetic analogues, including adherence to the wound surface, may be the signals to the open wound that effectively inhibit contraction. Whether myofibroblasts participate in this interaction remains unanswered.