Increased collagen deposition in an uncomplicated surgical wound compared to a minimal subcutaneous test wound

Little information is currently available concerning the relationship betwe en results obtained in humans from surgical test wounds and results from wo und models, Therefore, to evaluate human wound healing parameters, tubings of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene were implanted in a subcutaneous test w ound in the arm of 47 volunteers and 20 patients undergoing hernia repair. The surgical patients also had implants fell in the surgical wound cavity. After 10 days the deposition of collagen in the tubings as expressed by hyd roxyproline content was 30% higher in the surgical wound than in the test w ound, p < 0.05. The amount of collagen deposited in the tubing within the s urgical wound did not correlate with measurements in the test wound, wherea s a significant correlation of proline levels was found between the two sit es, p < 0.05. Deposition of proline and total protein in the model was equi valent. In both wound types age negatively correlated with levels of protei n, but not collagen. The variability of the results was 40% lower in the su bcutaneous test wound than in the surgical wound. There was no significant difference in hydroxyproline deposition between the volunteers and the pati ents undergoing hernia repair. In patients undergoing minor surgery without signs of compromised healing the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene test wou nd in the arm reflects the deposition of non-collagenous protein, but not c ollagen, within the surgical wound.