Abstract
Reducing scar size after severe burn injuries is an important and challenging medical, technological, and social problem. We have developed a battery-powered pulsed electric field (PEF) device and surface needle electrode applicator to deliver PEFs to the healing dorsal burn wound in rats. The pulsed electric field was used to treat residual burn wounds caused by metal contact in rats starting 10 days after the injury for 4 months every 11 or 22 days for 4 months using varying time applied voltages at 250-350 V range, 400 mA current, 40 pulses, 70 μs duration each, delivered at pulse repetition frequency 10 Hz at 5 locations inside the wound. We found 40%-45% reduction in the scar size in comparison with untreated controls in both upper and lower dorsal locations on rats' backs 2 months after the last PEF application. We have not detected significant histopathological differences in the center of the scars besides the thickness of the newly generated epidermis, which was thicker in the PEF-treated group. We showed that minimally invasively applied PEFs through needle electrodes are effective method and device for treating residual burn wounds in the rat model, reducing the size of the resulting scars, without any adverse reaction.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
