The influence of foreign textile bodies from military clothes on the healing process of experimental injuries of soft tissues

TL;DR

Military clothing fibers left in wounds can slow healing due to inflammation, with mixed cotton-polyester fibers causing less reaction than pure cotton.

Contribution

Demonstrates that military textile composition affects wound healing outcomes through inflammatory responses.

Findings

100% cotton fibers caused more inflammation compared to 65% cotton-35% polyester fibers in wound healing.

Textile foreign bodies in wounds significantly delayed healing due to inflammatory reactions.

Synthetic fibers in military uniforms may reduce inflammatory effects compared to natural fibers.

Abstract

The healing of combat wounds can be complicated by the presence of foreign bodies, including fragments of military clothing. The present work aims to study the morphological features of soft tissue injuries with textile fibers implanted into wounds, personnel military forms during wound healing, in the experiment.

By randomization, 54 rats were divided into 3 groups. Control group animals performed a layer-by-layer incision of soft tissues without implantation of foreign bodies. Animals of the experimental group 1 were made implantation of fibers of a fabric consisting of 100% cotton, and of the experimental group 2–of fibers of a fabric consisting of 65% cotton and 35% polyester. Removal of laboratory animals from the experiment was carried out on the 15th, 30th, and 60th day. Soft tissue samples were histologically examined.

The least pronounced inflammation was observed in rats of the control group. Wound healing in the experimental groups was slowed down due to the presence of inflammatory foci. A more pronounced inflammatory reaction was characterized by a group of animals with implanted tissue fibers consisting of 100% cotton. In the group with implanted tissue fibers consisting of 65% cotton and 35% polyester, the inflammatory reactions were less pronounced.

The presence of textile foreign bodies hampers the healing process of wounds of soft tissues due to the developing processes of inflammation around foreign bodies. The uniform of servicemen (35% synthetic and 65% natural fiber) is less reactive, leaving a wound as a textile foreign body, and has a less pronounced inflammatory effect, apparently due to the presence of synthetic threads that are more inert compared to fabric containing 100% natural fiber. This confirms the need for thorough debridement of combat wounds during the primary surgical treatment.

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