Prevention of the Formation of Unaesthetic Scars Following the Surgical Cutaneous Wounds Healing of the Jaw and Facial Region Based on Transplantation of Xenogenic Fibroblasts

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to optimize healing and prevent the formation of unaesthetic scars of the maxillofacial region by transplanting xenogenic dermal fibroblasts (XDFs) into a fresh surgical wound. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 patients were selected with formations located on the skin of the face and neck, which could be compared with symmetrical areas of the healthy side. The patients were divided into 2 groups—the main group (Group 1) and the control group (Group 2). In Group 2 (n=12), a neoplasm was dissected, followed by grafting with local tissues, and in the Group 1 (n=14), a culture suspension of XDFs was injected by a tunnel method into the wound edges before stitching. The area of scar formation was determined using the LesionMeter program for the Android operating system. Contact thermography was carried out using thermo indicator films (CelluVision kit, IPS Italy). Results: The analysis of the parameters of the young scar formation on Day 30 after the operation makes it possible to state that the introduction of cell culture of XDFs in the wound edges has a positive effect on the healing rate of surgical wounds, decreases the inflammatory response and contributes to the development of a distinctively positive scar in terms of its quality and functional characteristics. By Day 30, the primary surgical wound area was reduced by 67.69%, and 71.43% of patients had soft and thin aesthetic scars with microcirculation that were not distinguishable from the surrounding skin and the skin of symmetrical areas of the face or neck. In patients of the control group, without fibroblast transplantation, the area decreased by only 50.0% and aesthetic scars were formed only in 41.67% of cases. In 16.67% of patients, the presence of wide, dense, cold (due to weak vascularization) hypotrophic scars was noted. Hyperthermia persists around these scars, indicating a weak inflammatory response. Conclusion: The use of a cell culture suspension of XDFs in the treatment of postoperative surgical wounds opens up new real possibilities for reducing the incidence of inflammatory reactions, stimulates healing processes and contributes to the development of more functionally and aesthetically acceptable scars on the face and neck.

Keywords

• surgical wound
• fibroblasts
• scar
• planimetry
• thermometry