THE TREATMENT OF PARTIAL OR FULL THICKNESS SURFACE WOUNDS IN THE FIELD AFTER TRAUMATIC INJURY WHEN EVACUATION IS DELAYED IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM DUE TO BLOOD LOSS AND INFECTION.

THE TREATMENT OF PARTIAL OR FULL THICKNESS SURFACE WOUNDS IN THE FIELD AFTER TRAUMATIC INJURY WHEN EVACUATION IS DELAYED IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM DUE TO BLOOD LOSS AND INFECTION. INITIALLY, FLUID LOSS DUE TO BLEEDING CAN LEAD TO SHOCK. INFECTION IS A MAJOR RISK ESPECIALLY WHEN THE INJURY IS TO BE STABILIZED PRIOR TO EVACUATION. THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY IS DESIGNED TO DEVELOP A FIELD DRESSING THAT CONTAINS AN ANTIBIOTIC COUPLED TO A COLLAGEN SPONGE THAT CAN BE STORED WITHOUT REFRIGERATION AND APPLIED UNDER ADVERSE CONDITIONS. A TYPE I COLLAGEN SPONGE WILL BE USED AS THE MATRIX FOR ANTIBIOTIC DELIVERY AS IT IS KNOWN TO BE HEMOSTATIC AS WELL AS BIOCOMPATIBLE AND BIODEGRADABLE. THE RELEASE RATE AND BACTERICIDAL ABILITY OF THE DRESSING WILL BE ASSESSED USING AN ANIMAL MODEL. THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO PRODUCE A PROTOTYPE DRESSING WHICH CAN BE APPLIED IN THE FIELD AND WILL HELP STOP BLEEDING AND PREVENT INFECTION WHEN EVACUATION IS DELAYED.