Clinical History:

MH is an 18-year-old female who was involved in a motor vehicle accident on October 19, 1993. There was momentary loss of consciousness as the patient's head impacted the front windshield resulting in deep lacerations to the forehead. The evening of the accident the patient was taken to the operating room for repair of the facial laceration (Photograph #MH1).

The lacerations were deep, extending down to the periosteum (outer membrane of the bone) of the skull. All wounds were closed with 6-0 nylon following appropriate debridement and wound irrigation. Silverlon® dressing therapy was initiated immediately postoperatively. The patient spent the next five days in the hospital recovering from the femur fracture and learning to ambulate non-weight bearing. The Silverlon® wound dressing was subsequently changed daily and continued until October 23, 1993. By the third post injury day the patient's head lacerations were painfree.

Sutures were removed in the office October 25, 1993. Eight months after the injury photograph #MH-9 was taken. At this time, the patient was offered further surgical procedures to reduce the scar tissue that was present. She refused, stating that she was pleased with the result.

Clinical Significance:

Lacerations on the face, of this depth, often require subsequent plastic surgical procedures to reduce scar tissue and improve cosmetic appearance. With the application of Silverlon® wound dressing technology in the operating room after the wound was sutured closed, the following benefits were noted:

• No tattooing of the skin, as commonly seen with the application of silver sulfadiazine (Silvadene™) cream, was present;

• Reduced edema of the traumatized soft tissues. Note that in areas, such as the eyelid, that did not experience direct contact with the Silverlon® dressing treatment, edema was present;

• No post-operative wound infection;

• Minimal soft tissue scar, reducing necessity for further plastic surgical procedures.

All of the Silverlon® Wound Care, Burn Care, and Surgical Products listed on this website are FDA Cleared.


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