title: A model to reproduce predictable full-thickness burns in an experimental animal.
abstract: A standardized, reproducible animal model is a prerequisite to study concepts in the therapy of extensive burn injuries. The development of a new model makes it possible to produce predetermined burn injuries with a set temperature, time, contact pressure, and standard extent of tissue damage. For our studies we chose rats and exposed them to a temperature of 250 degrees C for 20 s and a contact pressure of 500 g/cm2 over various percentages of TBSA (total body surface area). The animals received shock prophylaxis for 3 days postburn and were kept under standardized conditions in a laminar airflow compartment. The temperature was kept at 32 degrees C and the relative humidity at 75 per cent. To reduce bacterial contamination, air was filtered through special bacteria-proof filters. Under these conditions we found burns of approximately 35 per cent TBSA to be sublethal resulting in 80 per cent mortality between days 5 and 7. This model permits the investigator to vary the burned skin area to any required extent for a reproducible study of different concepts of burn therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, RWTH, Aachen, FR Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kistler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hafemann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing