Reducing Side-effects of Autologous Skin Tissue Harvesting

NCT ID: NCT02234193

Last Updated: 2021-01-14

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Total Enrollment

8 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-06-30

Study Completion Date

2019-03-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The investigators are doing this research study to learn about how the skin heals after many microscopic skin biopsies are collected.

Skin-grafting is a life-saving procedure for people with large area skin wounds caused by burns or trauma. Conventional autologous (self) skin grafting techniques require the creation of large donor site wounds, causing numerous complications including pain, infection, blistering, discoloration, and scarring. Based on previous research, many of these adverse effects can be improved, or even eliminated, by harvesting skin tissue in very small biopsies. These "micro-biopsies" are less than the size of a sewing pin. Then, they are put back together into a skin graft.

This concept is based on clinical observations from fractional photothermolysis laser therapy, an FDA approved laser that has been previously developed by the investigators research group for the treatment of scars and ageing skin. With this laser technique, thousands to millions of small burns are produced by laser on a patient's skin, and the skin responds by healing the damaged areas to create new healthy skin within days and without scarring.

Although the results of laser treatment are well-known, it is not known what happens when we harvest the skin using needles instead of using the laser to cut the skin. The investigators also would like to understand how the body heals the skin. Understanding how this works helps in understanding wound healing, and may lead to future treatments for healing large wounds, disfiguring burn scars, and preventing scar formation.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty surgery) is done to remove excessive skin of the belly. This is an elective surgery, in other words, it is optional and usually done for cosmetics reasons (to improve the appearance).

The skin of the belly that is removed during an abdominoplasty surgery (tummy tuck) is discarded. The skin of the area removed is called "pre-abdominoplasty skin". The investigators would like to study the effects of the micro-biopsies on pre-abdominoplasty skin to exam how the skin heals over time and to study the skin that will be removed during the abdominoplasty surgery.

This is a pilot study. Pilot studies are done on a small group of subjects to learn if a larger study would be useful.

The investigators are asking subjects to take part in this study who are healthy with an abdominoplasty surgery (tummy tuck) scheduled at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) by a plastic surgeon .

The investigators will enroll about 28 subjects in this research study, all at MGH.

The Department of Defense is paying for this study to be done.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

It will take you about 8 weeks to complete this research study. During this time, the investigators will ask you to make up to 7 study visits to MGH.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Scar

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Micro biopsies 2mm x control

2 mm diameter micro biopsies will be performed on all subjects.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Micro biopsy

Intervention Type DEVICE

This is a prospective, self-controlled study of the healing response after collecting micro skin biopsies of different sizes (from 200 µm to 2 mm in diameter) from up to seven 1.5 x 1.5 cm biopsy sites in pre-abdominoplasty skin areas that are scheduled for surgical removal. The collection procedure will be performed using similar techniques as standard skin biopsies: the skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, then micro biopsies of skin will be removed by biopsy punch/harvesting needle. No more than 10% of the skin area within each biopsy site will be collected. Tattoo ink as described will be applied to 4 micro-biopsies at the corners of each biopsy test site

Lidocaine with epinephrine

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, prior to the surgical procedure

Micro biopsies 1mm x control

1 mm diameter micro biopsies will be performed on all subjects.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Micro biopsy

Intervention Type DEVICE

This is a prospective, self-controlled study of the healing response after collecting micro skin biopsies of different sizes (from 200 µm to 2 mm in diameter) from up to seven 1.5 x 1.5 cm biopsy sites in pre-abdominoplasty skin areas that are scheduled for surgical removal. The collection procedure will be performed using similar techniques as standard skin biopsies: the skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, then micro biopsies of skin will be removed by biopsy punch/harvesting needle. No more than 10% of the skin area within each biopsy site will be collected. Tattoo ink as described will be applied to 4 micro-biopsies at the corners of each biopsy test site

Lidocaine with epinephrine

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, prior to the surgical procedure

Micro biopsies 0.8 mm x control

0.8 mm diameter micro biopsies will be performed on all subjects.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Micro biopsy

Intervention Type DEVICE

This is a prospective, self-controlled study of the healing response after collecting micro skin biopsies of different sizes (from 200 µm to 2 mm in diameter) from up to seven 1.5 x 1.5 cm biopsy sites in pre-abdominoplasty skin areas that are scheduled for surgical removal. The collection procedure will be performed using similar techniques as standard skin biopsies: the skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, then micro biopsies of skin will be removed by biopsy punch/harvesting needle. No more than 10% of the skin area within each biopsy site will be collected. Tattoo ink as described will be applied to 4 micro-biopsies at the corners of each biopsy test site

Lidocaine with epinephrine

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, prior to the surgical procedure

Micro biopsies 0.6 mm x control

0.6 mm diameter micro biopsies will be performed on all subjects.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Micro biopsy

Intervention Type DEVICE

This is a prospective, self-controlled study of the healing response after collecting micro skin biopsies of different sizes (from 200 µm to 2 mm in diameter) from up to seven 1.5 x 1.5 cm biopsy sites in pre-abdominoplasty skin areas that are scheduled for surgical removal. The collection procedure will be performed using similar techniques as standard skin biopsies: the skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, then micro biopsies of skin will be removed by biopsy punch/harvesting needle. No more than 10% of the skin area within each biopsy site will be collected. Tattoo ink as described will be applied to 4 micro-biopsies at the corners of each biopsy test site

Lidocaine with epinephrine

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, prior to the surgical procedure

Micro biopsies 0.5 mm x control

0.5 mm diameter micro biopsies will be performed on all subjects.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Micro biopsy

Intervention Type DEVICE

This is a prospective, self-controlled study of the healing response after collecting micro skin biopsies of different sizes (from 200 µm to 2 mm in diameter) from up to seven 1.5 x 1.5 cm biopsy sites in pre-abdominoplasty skin areas that are scheduled for surgical removal. The collection procedure will be performed using similar techniques as standard skin biopsies: the skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, then micro biopsies of skin will be removed by biopsy punch/harvesting needle. No more than 10% of the skin area within each biopsy site will be collected. Tattoo ink as described will be applied to 4 micro-biopsies at the corners of each biopsy test site

Lidocaine with epinephrine

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, prior to the surgical procedure

Micro biopsies 0.40 mm x control

0.4 mm diameter micro biopsies will be performed on all subjects.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Micro biopsy

Intervention Type DEVICE

This is a prospective, self-controlled study of the healing response after collecting micro skin biopsies of different sizes (from 200 µm to 2 mm in diameter) from up to seven 1.5 x 1.5 cm biopsy sites in pre-abdominoplasty skin areas that are scheduled for surgical removal. The collection procedure will be performed using similar techniques as standard skin biopsies: the skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, then micro biopsies of skin will be removed by biopsy punch/harvesting needle. No more than 10% of the skin area within each biopsy site will be collected. Tattoo ink as described will be applied to 4 micro-biopsies at the corners of each biopsy test site

Lidocaine with epinephrine

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, prior to the surgical procedure

Micro biopsies 0.20 mm x control

0.2 mm diameter micro biopsies will be performed on all subjects.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Micro biopsy

Intervention Type DEVICE

This is a prospective, self-controlled study of the healing response after collecting micro skin biopsies of different sizes (from 200 µm to 2 mm in diameter) from up to seven 1.5 x 1.5 cm biopsy sites in pre-abdominoplasty skin areas that are scheduled for surgical removal. The collection procedure will be performed using similar techniques as standard skin biopsies: the skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, then micro biopsies of skin will be removed by biopsy punch/harvesting needle. No more than 10% of the skin area within each biopsy site will be collected. Tattoo ink as described will be applied to 4 micro-biopsies at the corners of each biopsy test site

Lidocaine with epinephrine

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, prior to the surgical procedure

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Micro biopsy

This is a prospective, self-controlled study of the healing response after collecting micro skin biopsies of different sizes (from 200 µm to 2 mm in diameter) from up to seven 1.5 x 1.5 cm biopsy sites in pre-abdominoplasty skin areas that are scheduled for surgical removal. The collection procedure will be performed using similar techniques as standard skin biopsies: the skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, then micro biopsies of skin will be removed by biopsy punch/harvesting needle. No more than 10% of the skin area within each biopsy site will be collected. Tattoo ink as described will be applied to 4 micro-biopsies at the corners of each biopsy test site

Intervention Type DEVICE

Lidocaine with epinephrine

The skin area involved will be cleaned with alcohol pads, and 1% buffered lidocaine with epinephrine anesthesia will be administered locally, prior to the surgical procedure

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

Lidocaine

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Healthy adults (\>18 years old) scheduled to undergo elective abdominoplasty surgery at MGH, male or female.
2. Willingness to participate in the study
3. Willingness to undergo biopsies of full-thickness skin tissue from the pre-abdominoplasty skin, and have the biopsy sites marked by tattoos.
4. Informed consent agreement signed by the subject
5. Willingness to follow the treatment and follow-up schedules, and post treatment care requirements
6. Willingness to not use topical or systemic (oral) anti-scarring or anti-inflammatory\* medications during the study period.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Subjects who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed\*
2. Subject is unable to comply with treatment, home care or follow-up visits
3. Subject has an infection or other dermatologic condition in the area to be treated
4. Subjects with a personal or family history of keloid formation.
5. Subjects with pre-existing scars, tattoos, birthmarks, or other physical features in the area to be treated, such that the experimental outcome may be confounded.
6. Subjects with a history of coagulopathy, or are taking anticoagulants
7. Subjects taking daily oral aspirin.
8. Subject is currently enrolled in a clinical study of any other unapproved investigational drug or device.
9. Subjects with any contraindications for elective abdominoplasty, as determined by their treating plastic surgeon and/or pre-op anesthesiologist.
10. Subjects with current drug or alcohol addiction.
11. Subjects who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding
12. Subjects with tape adhesive allergies
13. Subjects with known allergies to injectable lidocaine or other topical anesthetics
14. Subjects with uncontrolled or unstable chronic disease such as diabetes, hepatitis, hypertension, etc.
15. Subjects taking oral corticosteroids or topical steroids on the study area.
16. Subjects using prescription or over-the-counter medication or cosmetics containing: retinoids, glycolic acid, salicylic acid or any other remedies that might affect the healing process. (Non-medicated moisturizers are ok).
17. Subjects enrolled in other clinical studies taking any unknown or not-FDA approved medications.
18. Any other condition or laboratory value that would, in the professional opinion of the investigator, potentially affect the subject's response or the integrity of the data or would pose an unacceptable risk to the subject.

Notes:

\*About Anti-Inflammatory Medication and Immune Status The inflammatory response associated with tissue wounding is known to have substantial effects on the process of scarring, therefore all subjects who are immunocompromised, or undergoing anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive therapies will be excluded from the study. All new medication should be reported to study doctor before each visit.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

50 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Richard Rox Anderson, MD

Professor of Dermatology, Director of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Rasmussen CA, Tam J, Steiglitz BM, Bauer RL, Peters NR, Wang Y, Anderson RR, Allen-Hoffmann BL. Chimeric autologous/allogeneic constructs for skin regeneration. Mil Med. 2014 Aug;179(8 Suppl):71-8. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00480.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 25102552 (View on PubMed)

Champlain AH, DiGiorgio CM, Zurakowski D, Sakamoto FH, Anderson RR. Wound Healing After Fractional Skin Harvesting. Dermatol Surg. 2022 Oct 1;48(10):1083-1088. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000003552. Epub 2022 Aug 23.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36036977 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

2014P000120

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

New Treatment for Donor Sites
NCT00591916 WITHDRAWN PHASE2/PHASE3
Epidermal Grafting in Wound Healing
NCT02535481 COMPLETED NA
Dermabrasion for Free Flap Aesthetic Enhancement
NCT07233200 NOT_YET_RECRUITING NA
Photochemical Tissue Bonding
NCT00586040 COMPLETED PHASE2