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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Nov-Dec;21(6):800-7.
doi: 10.1111/wrr.12078. Epub 2013 Aug 12.

Randomized placebo-controlled human pilot study of cold atmospheric argon plasma on skin graft donor sites

Julia Heinlin  1 , Julia L Zimmermann, Florian Zeman, Wolfram Bunk, Georg Isbary, Michael Landthaler, Tim Maisch, Roberto Monetti, Gregor Morfill, Tetsuji Shimizu, Julia Steinbauer, Wilhelm Stolz, Sigrid Karrer
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Randomized placebo-controlled human pilot study of cold atmospheric argon plasma on skin graft donor sites

Julia Heinlin et al. Wound Repair Regen. 2013 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Cold atmospheric plasma has already been shown to decrease the bacterial load in chronic wounds. However, until now it is not yet known if plasma treatment can also improve wound healing. We aimed to assess the impact of cold atmospheric argon plasma on the process of donor site healing. Forty patients with skin graft donor sites on the upper leg were enrolled in our study. The wound sites were divided into two equally sized areas that were randomly assigned to receive either plasma treatment or placebo (argon gas) for 2 minutes. Donor site healing was evaluated independently by two blinded dermatologists, who compared the wound areas with regard to reepithelialization, blood crusts, fibrin layers, and wound surroundings. From the second treatment day onwards, donor site wound areas treated with plasma (n = 34) showed significantly improved healing compared with placebo-treated areas (day 1, p = 0.25; day 2, p = 0.011; day 3, p < 0.001; day 4, p < 0.001; day 5, p = 0.004; day 6, p = 0.008; day 7, p = 0.031). Positive effects were observed in terms of improved reepithelialization and fewer fibrin layers and blood crusts, whereas wound surroundings were always normal, independent of the type of treatment. Wound infection did not occur in any of the patients, and no relevant side effects were observed. Both types of treatment were well tolerated. The mechanisms contributing to these clinically observed effects should be further investigated.

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