Pressure ulcers (
PUs) are common debilitating complications of traumatic
spinal cord injury (SCI) and tend to occur in soft tissues around bony prominences. There is, however, little known about the impact of SCI on skin wound healing in the context of animal models in controlled experimental settings. In this study, a simple, non-invasive, reproducible and clinically relevant mouse model of
PUs in the context of complete SCI is presented. Adult male mice (Balb/c, 10 weeks old) were shaved and depilated. Post-
depilation (24 h), mice were subjected to
laminectomy followed by complete
spinal cord transection (T9-T10 vertebrae). Immediately after, a skin fold on the back of the mice was lifted and sandwiched between two magnetic discs held in place for next 12 h, thus creating an ischemic area that developed into a PU over the following days. The wounded areas demonstrated tissue
edema and epidermal disappearance by day 3 post-magnet application.
PUs spontaneously developed and healed. Healing was, however, slower in the SCI mice compared to control non-SCI mice when the
wound was created below the level of SCI. Conversely, no difference in healing was seen between SCI and control non-SCI mice when the
wound was created above the level of SCI. This model is a potentially useful tool to study the dynamics of skin PU development and healing after SCI, as well as to test therapeutic approaches that may help heal such
wounds.