[doi: 10.5505/2017ichc.OP-23]Structural effects of microneedling and topical retinol palmitate on burn woundsElçin Servet Alpat1, Burak Kaya1, Hilal Nakkaş2, Pınar Bayram3, Şule Kızıl3, Belgin Can3, Serdar Mehmet Gültan12Department of Histology and Embryology, Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey 3Department of Histology and Embryology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey Burns are one of the most important health problems all around the world. In spite of major improvements in burn care during the past 30 years, mortality and morbidity rates of such injuries are still high. Even if the patients survive from burn, their wounds continue to cause a big problem for them. Although there is progress at treatment of burn wounds, there is no consensus on treatment options. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of microneedling and vitamin A knowing that both have regenerative properties on skin. 24 male Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups randomly. After intraperitoneal anesthesia induction, the comb burn model was used to create the burn wound on rat dorsal skin. After 30 minutes, 3 groups received microneedling (Dr group), retinol palmitateplus microneedling (Dr+VitA) and only retinol palmitate (RP group), respectively. No treatment applicated to control group. Microneedling was applied for once and topical RP application was continued all along the study period. At the end of 28 days wounds are photographed for measurement and biopsied for histological investigation. After routine histological procedure tissue samples were analysed under light microscope by Hematoxylene-Eosin, Masson’s Trichrome, Periodic Acid-Schiff, Verhoeff-Van Gieson stainings and anti-collagen type 1 and 3 as immunohistochemically. Reepithelization thickness, vascularisation, polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration and collagen synthesis and configuration were evaluated. Wound area decrease was statistically significant only in Dr group animals together with a significant weight regain. Zone of stasis survival was observed clinically only in microneedled groups( Dr and Dr+VitA). Reepithelisation was almost complete in Dr group with a lesser degree of PMNL infiltration and vascularisation compared to other groups. Collagen type 1 synthesis was significant rather than type 3 in microneedled groups. New collagen conformation was similar to healthy skin collagen alignment. RP didn’t disclose significant healing effect on any of those investigated properties. As a result, by this study it is shown that microneedling has beneficial effects on burn wounds healing but more comprehensive studies are needed including different application frequencies and protocols. |