title: Closure of large wounds using rubber bands in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to verify the effectiveness of the rubber elastic band in the treatment of large wounds of the body wall of rabbits by means of traction of its edges.
  
  
  METHODS
  we studied 30 New Zealand rabbits, divided into three groups (n=10): Group 1- healing by secondary intention; Group 2- removal and eutopic repositioning of skin as full thickness skin graft; Group 3- Approximation of wound edges with elastic rubber band. In all animals, we removed a segment of the back skin and subcutaneous tissue down to the fascia, in accordance with an acrylic mold of 8 cm long by 12 cm wide. All animals were observed for 21 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  two animals of groups 1 and 2 had wound abscess. In Group 2, there was partial or total graft loss in 90% of animals. The complete closure of the wounds was observed in four animals of Group 1, six of Group 2 and eight of Group 3. There was no difference between the scar resistance values of groups 2 and 3, which were higher than those in Group 1. The scars of the three groups were characterized by the presence of mature connective tissue mixed with blood vessels and inflammatory infiltration, predominantly polymorphonuclear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the tensile strength of the wound edges with rubber elastic band is as efficient as the skin graft to treat rabbits' large body wounds.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Alfenas, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Angélica Baron
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, UFMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petroianu
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silmar Grey de Oliveira
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, UFMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, UFMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Ronaldo
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, UFMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alfredo José Afonso
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Complementary Assessment, School of Medicine, UFMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo de Souza
authors.initials: Lde S
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital, UFMG, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wilson Campos
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tavares Junior
mesh_terms: D058107:Abdominal Wound Closure Techniques; D000818:Animals; D020724:Elastomers; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014143:Traction
chemical_list: D020724:Elastomers