title: Creation of consistent burn wounds: a rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Burn infliction techniques are poorly described in rat models. An accurate study can only be achieved with wounds that are uniform in size and depth. We describe a simple reproducible method for creating consistent burn wounds in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and dorsum shaved. A 100 g cylindrical stainless-steel rod (1 cm diameter) was heated to 100℃ in boiling water. Temperature was monitored using a thermocouple. We performed two consecutive toe-pinch tests on different limbs to assess the depth of sedation. Burn infliction was limited to the loin. The skin was pulled upwards, away from the underlying viscera, creating a flat surface. The rod rested on its own weight for 5, 10, and 20 seconds at three different sites on each rat. Wounds were evaluated for size, morphology and depth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average wound size was 0.9957 cm(2) (standard deviation [SD] 0.1845) (n=30). Wounds created with duration of 5 seconds were pale, with an indistinct margin of erythema. Wounds of 10 and 20 seconds were well-defined, uniformly brown with a rim of erythema. Average depths of tissue damage were 1.30 mm (SD 0.424), 2.35 mm (SD 0.071), and 2.60 mm (SD 0.283) for duration of 5, 10, 20 seconds respectively. Burn duration of 5 seconds resulted in full-thickness damage. Burn duration of 10 seconds and 20 seconds resulted in full-thickness damage, involving subjacent skeletal muscle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a simple reproducible method for creating burn wounds consistent in size and depth in a rat burn model.
authors: Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors: Elijah Zhengyang
authors: EZ
authors: Cai
authors: Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Natioanl University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Chuan Han
authors: CH
authors: Ang
authors: Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Natioanl University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors: Ashvin
authors: A
authors: Raju
authors: Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Natioanl University of Singapore, Singapore. ; Department of Pathology, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors: Kong Bing
authors: KB
authors: Tan
authors: Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Natioanl University of Singapore, Singapore. ; Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors: Eileen Chor Hoong
authors: EC
authors: Hing
authors: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Agency of Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
authors: Yihua
authors: Y
authors: Loo
authors: Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore.
authors: Yong Chiat
authors: YC
authors: Wong
authors: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors: Hanjing
authors: H
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Natioanl University of Singapore, Singapore. ; Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: Lim
authors: Defence Medical and Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories, Singapore.
authors: Shabbir M
authors: SM
authors: Moochhala
authors: Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Agency of Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
authors: Charlotte Ae
authors: CA
authors: Hauser
authors: Department of Surgery, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Natioanl University of Singapore, Singapore. ; Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
authors: Thiam Chye
authors: TC
authors: Lim
keywords: Animals; Burns; Rats wound healing