Comparative Study between Chitin/Polyacrylic Acid (PAA) Dressing, Lipido-Colloid Absorbent Dressing and Alginate Wound Dressing: A Pilot Study in the Treatment of Partial-Thickness Wound
Apichai Angspatt MD*, Puttan Tanvatcharaphan MD*, Somruethai Channasanon MS**, Siriporn Tanodekaew PhD**, Prayuth Chokrungvaranont MD*, Wimol Sirimaharaj MD***
Affiliation : * Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand ** National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency, Pathumthani, Thailand *** Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Background : Polyacrylic acid grafted chitin (Chitin-PAA) contains a hydrogel characteristic that makes it more suitable for
wound dressing application. In animal models, Chitin-PAA dressing exhibited properties as a promising dressing. Epithelization
promotion, rapid reduction of wound size, reduction of inflammatory cell response, and less toxicity had been noted.
Objective : Carryout a pilot clinical comparative study of Chitin-PAA dressing, lipido-colloid absorbent dressing, and alginate
wound dressing in the treatment of partial-thickness wound.
Material and Method: Between June 2006 and March 2007, 36 partial-thickness wounds were randomized into three groups
and three different types of dressing were used. Each wound was treated until it was completely healed, and a visual analogue
scale was used for the pain evaluation.
Result: The present study shows the visual analogue pain score in the Chitin-PAA group seems to be a bit higher than the
Urgocell® group but not statistically different. The completely healed day is not significantly different. Three patients in the
lipido-colloid absorbent dressing groups had wound infection but eventually healed after treatment.
Conclusion : There was no statistical difference in terms of visual analogue pain score and healing time between the lipido-
colloid absorbent dressing, alginate dressing, and chitin-PAA dressing.
Keywords : Polyacrylic acid, Chitin, Chitin PAA, Alginate dressing, Lipido-colloid absorbent dressing, Wound healing, Partial-thickness wound
