Weak direct current accelerates split-thickness graft healing on tangentially excised second-degree burns.
We have examined the effects of direct current (DC) conducted through silver-nylon dressings on the healing time and morphologic maturation of split-thickness grafts placed on tangentially excised deep partial-thickness burn wounds. Male guinea pigs (n = 120) were used as the experimental hosts. The DC-treated animals required 2 days for complete revascularization of their grafts; control animals required 7 days (p less than 0.01). The DC-treated animals had increased epithelial proliferation at the graft-wound interface as compared with controls (p less than 0.01). Grafts from DC-treated animals were firmly adherent within 4 days, whereas graft adherence in controls was weak before 7 days after grafting. At 3 months after grafting, control animal grafts had mild contraction with moderate hair loss and thick subepidermal fibrosis; the grafts in DC-treated animals expanded with the growth of the animals and had abundant hair growth and significantly reduced dermal fibrosis (p less than 0.01).
Chu
C S
CS
Library Branch, United States Army Institute or Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-5012.
McManus
A T
AT
Okerberg
C V
CV
Mason
A D
AD
Pruitt
B A
BA
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002455:Cell Division; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000473:pathology; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*