Although the use of an occlusive
wound covering accelerates the reepithelialization of a partial-thickness
wound, it has the disadvantage of leading to
wound exudate accumulation. The effect of an experimental
polyetherurethane (PEU)
wound covering with a high vapor permeability was compared with an occlusive
wound covering (
OpSite covering) and air exposure with respect to the rate of reepithelialization, eventual epidermal thickness, and scab thickness in 122 partial-thickness
wounds in guinea pigs. The percentage of reepithelialization on day 2 was 85% in
wounds covered with the permeable PEU membrane, whereas it was 66% and 35%, respectively, in
wounds covered with the occlusive covering or exposed to air. The epidermal thickness did not differ among the three types of treatment. The scab thickness, however, was maximal in the uncovered air-exposed
wounds. We conclude that epidermal wound healing is accelerated when the PEU
wound covering is used. This wound-healing-promotion effect is apparently due to the high
water vapor permeability of PEU, which induces clotting of the
wound exudate, and subsequent jellifying of the clot layer.