The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of a
fibrin sealant (
Tisseel) on wound healing. The sealant tested is produced from human plasma. This study involved 12 adult beagle dogs, all of which underwent creation of full-thickness palatal
wounds. Six animals received immediate application of a
fibrin sealant as a
wound dressing. Polaroid photographs were taken immediately after creation of the palatal
wounds and at regular intervals during the healing period. Six measurements were obtained from these photographs. Longitudinal comparisons of the profile of the mean curves for the relative changes during the 38-day study period indicated that the six parameters investigated have similar curve profiles in both the
fibrin-sealant treated
wounds and the untreated control
wounds. The overall direction of healing was not significantly different in the two groups. However, comparisons of the curve magnitudes indicated that there was a significantly greater reduction in
wound size in the
fibrin sealant treated group. Cross-sectional comparisons (analysis of variance General Linear Models procedure) indicated that in the first 2 weeks there was a relatively greater reduction in
wound width in the
fibrin sealant treated group of animals. No significant differences were present at the end of the experimental period. The findings of this study indicated that the
fibrin sealant when used as a dressing on palatal
wounds of adult beagle dogs resulted in greater
wound contraction in the early stages of wound healing.