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A modified technique of delayed primary closure using a povidone iodine wick: Influence on wound healing in an experimental model

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Abstract

We report a modified technique of delayed primary wound closure using a wound wick. A rodent model was used to determine its influence on healing. After loose primary closure of two paravertebral incisions on the dorsum of male rats, a 10 cm length of ribbon gauze, soaked in either saline or 1% povidone-iodine, was inserted into the right sided wound. Wicks were soaked daily with the same solution until removal on the third post-operative day. The inclusion of a wick soaked in saline had an early transient effect on healing. A more prolonged impairment of healing was demonstrated in povidone-iodine wicked wounds and their respective controls. These data suggest that povidone-iodine impaired healing not only in the wicked wound, but also inhibited healing in the adjacent unwicked wound which was not directly exposed to the antiseptic. The observed delay in healing in povidone-iodine wicked wounds must however be balanced against its beneficial effect on wound infection rates. We suggest that further evaluation of this method of closure in contaminated wounds is warranted.

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Author notes

  1. R. G. Molloy

    Present address: Dept. of Surgery, Victoria Hospital, Hayfield Rd., KY2 5AH, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Surgery, Regional Hospital, Cork, Ireland

    R. G. Molloy & M. P. Brady

  2. University Department of Surgery, University College, Cork, Ireland

    R. G. Molloy & M. P. Brady

Authors
  1. R. G. Molloy
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  2. M. P. Brady
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Molloy, R.G., Brady, M.P. A modified technique of delayed primary closure using a povidone iodine wick: Influence on wound healing in an experimental model. I.J.M.S. 162, 297–300 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02960723

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02960723

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