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Lidocaine permeability in silicone tissue expanders: an in vitro analysis
D E Berman1, J Lettieri, D Herold
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|October 1, 1989
Summary
Lidocaine readily permeates silicone tissue expanders, demonstrating predictable diffusion dynamics. This study supports further research into lidocaine
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Plastic Surgery
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Tissue expansion is crucial for soft-tissue reconstruction.
- Pain following tissue expansion limits patient treatment.
- Lidocaine is a known analgesic, but its use within tissue expanders is anecdotal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine silicone's permeability to lidocaine.
- To define the diffusion dynamics of lidocaine from tissue expanders.
- To investigate lidocaine's potential role in managing expansion-induced pain.
Main Methods:
- Part 1: Assessed silicone permeability to lidocaine using fluorescence immunoassay.
- Part 2: Measured lidocaine diffusion from two types of tissue expanders (Surgitek, Dow Corning) over 48 hours in vitro.
- Analyzed lidocaine levels in surrounding saline baths at timed intervals.
Main Results:
- Silicone polymers are readily permeable to lidocaine.
- Predictable lidocaine diffusion curves were observed over 48 hours.
- Differences in diffusion rates between expander types correlated with wall thickness; valve leakage was not significant.
Conclusions:
- Silicone tissue expanders allow lidocaine diffusion.
- Lidocaine diffusion dynamics are predictable in vitro.
- Further in vivo and clinical studies are warranted to explore lidocaine's therapeutic potential in tissue expansion.