Subjective and objective observation of Tilapia skin as auto skin graft dressing in cats.

Abstract

The recovery of auto skin graft is a dynamic and complex process that requires a suitable environment for vascularization as nutrition delivery to cells and donor skin reception. This research aimed to determine the effect of Tilapia skin dressing on the recovery of auto skin graft treatment on domestic cats through subjective and objective observation. Six male Indonesian local cats aged 1-2 years old weighing 3-4 kg were separated into two groups. The surgical procedure was performed in a sterile and aseptic environment. The first surgery created wound defects on the forelimb area 2 × 2 cm in size to whole groups. The wounds were left for 4 days and then treated with the following treatments; Group I (G-I) was treated with Tilapia skin dressing, and Group II (G-II) was treated with moist dressing Sofra-tulle®. The dressing of the two groups was replaced every 3 days and evaluated subjectively and objectively. Subjective observation showed that skin was reddish (day 3), the bleeding test showed bleeding immediately occurred after incision, and pain response was observed on day 6 post-surgery on both treatment groups showed significantly differences with 95% confidence level (p < 0.05). Objective observation in the form of NaCl 0.9% absorption and medicine effect on auto skin graft did not show a significant difference between the two treatment groups (p > 0.05). Auto skin graft treatment by moist dressing showed better healing, but Tilapia skin dressing can be an alternative choice during auto skin graft treatment.