Evaluation of artificial skin (Integra) in a rodent model.

The biocompatibility of artificial skin (Integra) has been investigated in clean surgical wounds of 20 guinea-pigs. A rectangular 3 x 3 cm full-thickness skin defect with excision carried down to the panniculus carnosus was prepared on the dorsal area of the guinea-pig. A thin layer of silver sulfadiazine cream was applied and artificial skin was placed to cover the wound. At day 14, the uppermost silicone layer was removed. Good take of the artificial skin was observed in 18 of 20 animals. Microscopy showed good vascular ingrowth in 14 of the 18 animals. The remaining four animals showed necrotic tissue, absence of vascularization and haemorrhage in the wound bed. Two of the 20 wounds showed purulent discharge. In this animal model, clinical 'take' of the neodermis was achieved in 18/20 animals (90 per cent), while vascular ingrowth was observed in only 14/20 animals (70 per cent). These results suggested that artificial skin in clean surgical wound is readily biologically incorporated into surrounding viable tissue.