Direct current reduces wound edema after full-thickness burn injury in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of 4 and 40 microA direct current (DC) on edema formation after burn injury in rats.


METHODS
Silver-nylon wound dressings were used as either anodes (-) or cathodes (+) on 20% total body surface area full-thickness scalds in anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats. Untreated burned rats and rats treated with silver-nylon dressings without current were used as controls.


RESULTS
Immediately applied, continuous DC reduced burn edema by 17 to 48% at different times up to 48 hours postburn (p < 0.001). Neither reversal of electrode polarity nor change in current density had any significant effect on the results of treatment. Starting treatment during the first 8 hours postburn produced the least edema accumulation, but the reduction was significant even when DC was applied 36 hours afterburn. If started immediately after injury, treatment had to be continued a minimum of 8 hours to be most effective.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct electric current has a beneficial effect in reducing wound edema after burn injury.
Chu
C S
CS
United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, 78234-6315, USA.
Matylevich
N P
NP
McManus
A T
AT
Mason
A D
AD
Pruitt
B A
BA
D000818:Animals; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing