title: Direct current reduces wound edema after full-thickness burn injury in rats.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, 78234-6315, USA.
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Matylevich
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Pruitt
mesh_terms: 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