Evaluation of 10% Iodopovidone Solution And 0.5% Chlorhexidine Digluconate in the Decontamination and Cell Viability of Flexor Tendon Grafts After Contamination. An Experimental Study
M.S. Navarro, A. Kusabara, B.V.D.A. Mascarenhas, R.D.A. Borghetti, C.P. Damasio, R.D.C.P. CestariObjectives:
To evaluate tissue autolysis, bacterial colony growth, and inflammatory tissue reaction in knee flexor tendon graft samples after contamination and decontamination using 10% iodopovidone solution (PVP-I) and 0.5% chlorhexidine digluconate.
Methods:
A total of 105 graft samples were obtained from surplus flexor tendon tissue collected during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in 21 patients. The excess graft tissue, routinely discarded after surgery, was divided into five samples per procedure. Contamination was performed by contact with the operating room floor. The samples were distributed into five groups: Group I (control), submitted directly to histological analysis; Group II, decontaminated with PVP-I for 2 minutes; Group III, decontaminated with PVP-I for 5 minutes; Group IV, decontaminated with chlorhexidine for 2 minutes; and Group V, decontaminated with chlorhexidine for 5 minutes. All samples underwent histopathological analysis for bacterial colony count, tissue inflammatory response, and degree of tissue autolysis.
Results:
No bacterial colonies were identified in any sample from any group. There were no differences in the semiquantitative analysis of tissue inflammatory response among the groups. Regarding tissue autolysis, only Group II showed no statistically significant difference compared with the control group (p=0,422).
Conclusion:
Both PVP-I and chlorhexidine were effective decontaminating agents at exposure times of two and five minutes. However, exposure for five minutes resulted in increased tissue autolysis compared with the control group. Only PVP-I exposure for two minutes demonstrated tissue autolysis comparable to the control group.