Moist exposed burn therapy: evaluation of the wound healing process. An experimental model to assess the efficacy of local agents on wound repair in partial- and full-thickness wounds

The porcine model was used to investigate the wound healing process. 116 partial and full-thickness wounds were induced on the back of the animals using the CO₂ Three local dressing agents were tested: Povidone Iodine, Silver Sulphadiazine and MEBO ointments. The following parameters were evaluated: physical examination, photography, pH, transepidermal water loss and moisture of the wound, planimetry and histological assessment of injury. The measurement of different parameters revealed that partial-thickness burn wounds were better assessed using Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL), while full-thickness ones are better assessed using planimetry, measuring the surface of the wound. MEBO significantly accelerates the wound healing process of partial- (inflicted by CO₂ Laser) and full-thickness excised wounds when compared to other local agents applied on wounds similar in size, extent and cause and the control group.