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[Experimental study on radiofrequency ablation technology for treatment of infected wounds in minipigs]
Rungong Yang1, Tantan Zuo, Jialiang Zhu
1Department of Orthopaedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 100048, P.R.China.
Objective:
To observe the effect of radiofrequency ablation technology for the treatment of infected wounds in minipigs.
Methods:
Infected wounds of full-thickness skin defects (about 6.15 cm2/wound) were prepared in 8 6-month-old minipigs (weighing, 30-35 kg) using the method of Davis et al. The 160 wounds were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 40). Infected wounds were debrided with the radiofrequency ablation technology in group A, with the electric knife in group B, and with the scalpel in group C; no treatment was done in group D as a control. The healing rate, healing time, and tissue filling rate were observed; bacterial quantitative examination and histological examination were done at 0, 2, 7, and 14 days after operation.
Results:
All infected wounds were successfully established after 48 hours when Staphylococcus aureus dilution were inoculated. The wounds after radiofrequency ablation technology treatment were fresh and flat with slight bleeding; the healing time of group A was significantly shorter than that of groups B, C, and D (P < 0.05), and the healing rate of group A was significantly higher than that of groups B, C, and D at 7 and 14 days after operation (P < 0.05). The tissue filling rate of group A was significantly higher than that of groups B, C, and D at 2 days after operation (P < 0.05); the tissue filling rates of groups A, B, and C were significantly higher than that of group D at 7 and 14 days after operation (P < 0.05). At 0, 2, 7, and 14 days, there were significant differences in the bacterial count per gram tissue among 4 groups (P < 0.05), the order from low to high was groups A, B, C, and D. The histological observation showed that the surface of wound was smooth in group A at 0 day, and group A was better than the other groups in wound healing; at 2 days, some exudates were observed in 4 groups, but it was least in group A. There was inflammatory cell infiltration in various degrees in 4 groups at 7 and 14 days; it was lightest in group A with thick epithelium and dense collagen bundles, followed by groups B and C, and it was severe in group D.
Conclusion:
The radiofrequency ablation technology can effectively remove the necrotic tissues of infected wounds, remarkably reduce the number of bacteria, improve the healing rate, and shorten the healing time of wounds.
