The time required for wound healing, contraction, and hypertrophic
scarring often limit the use of deep partial-thickness
burn wounds as donor sites for split-thickness grafts. We have examined the effects of weak direct current and
silver nylon dressings on the healing of partial-thickness scald
burns, split-thickness grafts taken from these
wounds when healed, and the resulting donor sites in a guinea pig model. Dorsal scald
wounds treated with weak direct current reepithealized by 12 days postinjury. Split-thickness grafts taken from healed scald
wounds showed more rapid revascularization with direct current treatment than did control grafts. Grafts and donor sites treated with direct current showed more rapid reepithelialization, decreased contraction, improved hair survival, and decreased dermal
fibrosis when compared to controls not treated with direct current. Only donor
wounds treated with weak direct current were reusable as donor sites.