[Hyperthermia can accelerate the healing process of 2[nd] degree burn wounds]

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of local hyperthermia on the healing of burn wounds. Right and Left flunks of 8 Balb-c mice [as treated and control wounds respectively] were burned. Local hyperthermia was applied only for the burn wounds of the right flunks [the treated wound]. Sampling was accomplished on the 6[th] day for half of the mice and on the 9[th] day for the other half. The treated wounds had significantly smaller sizes than control wounds on the 6[th] day [P=0.019] and the 9[th] day [P=0.007]. The number of hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the treated wounds were significantly more than those of control wounds both on the 6[th] day [P=0.025 and P=0.043, respectively] and on the 9[th] day [P=0.012 and P=0.033, respectively]. Regarding the neovascularization there was no significant difference between the treated and control wounds on the 6[th] day but on the 9[th] day the neovascularization of the treated wounds was significantly more comparing to the control wounds [P=0.025]. Acute inflammation of the treated wounds was significantly less than the control wounds [P=0.015]. Collagen formation and reepithelialization in the treated wounds were more than the control wounds both on the 6[th] and 9[th] days. It is concluded that local hyperthermia can accelerate the healing process of the second degree burn wounds