Comparison of the wound-healing efficacy of gelatin sponge dressings and that of artificial dermis using atelocollagen in a rat cranial periosteal defect model

In oral surgery, tissue loss may occur in some cases, resulting in bone exposure and subsequent wound infection and possible scar formation during secondary healing. In this study, Terudermis (R) Artificial Dermis (AD-T), a dermal defect graft made from processed bovine dermis collagen and gelatin sponge (GS) were used as dressings on 100-mm(2) wounds with exposed bone on the heads of rats. For the control group, the wound was left exposed. The wound-healing efficacy of the treatment was compared macroscopically and histologically among the three groups at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after surgery. Complete wound healing was achieved faster in the AD-T group than in the GS group, and osteoblasts appeared on the bone surface, indicating accelerated bone remodeling. Furthermore, in the AD-T group, there was an increased production of newly formed blood vessels, fibroblasts and osteoblasts positive for anti-cortactin antibodies, which are believed to contribute to wound healing. Our findings suggest that AD-T is better than GS as a wound dressing material.