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).
Library Branch, United States Army Institute or Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-5012.
C S
CS
Chu
A T
AT
McManus
C V
CV
Okerberg
A D
AD
Mason
B A
BA
Pruitt
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*