Infiltration effect of ropivacaine on skin wound healing assessed by collagen density

Link of Video Abstract: https://youtu.be/juiwFS3TxfA   Introduction: The wound healing process is characterized by granulation tissue rich in new blood vessel networks and macrophages, granulocytes, endothelial cells, and collagen that fill the wound gap. Ropivacaine infiltration, which can be used as a long-acting local anesthetic, is expected to reduce surgical stress. One of the parameters that can be used to assess wound healing is collagen density. Thus, it needs to be determined whether there are differences in the administration of ropivacaine as a local anesthetic in supporting the improvement of wound healing influenced by collagen density Methods: This study was an experimental study using a sample of 32 Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) which were randomly divided into 2 groups: the treatment group with 2 cm full-thickness wound incisions with 2,52 mg of ropivacaine infiltration, while the control group was given NaCl infiltration 0.9% 1 ml. Furthermore, wound tissue samples were taken on day 5 to calculate Collagen density through immunohistochemical examination. Results: Anesthetic infiltration of post-surgical wounds can accelerate wound healing. There was a significant difference in collagen density between the control and treatment groups (p = 0.028) and a significant difference between the control and treatment groups (p = 0.011). Conclusion: The infiltration of ropivacaine in wound healing increases the density of collagen and fibroblasts, triggering the formation of granulation tissue that supports the wound healing process.