In Vivo Microcirculation of a Scald Burn and the Progression of Postburn Dermal Ischemia

Abstract

The homozygous hairless mouse ear provides a reproducible model for the study of the microcirculatory changes of the burn wound during and following a scald burn injury. This model allowed correlation of the dynamic changes of the microcirculation to progressive zones of injury, which show an approximate 10-fold increase in the area of complete capillary occlusion during the first 48 h after injury. Platelet thromboembolism appears to be the major factor causing this progression of postburn dermal ischemia. Edema (increased skin water content) was greatest in the burned ear at 6 h after the burn (20% greater than control values); edema of the unburned, contralateral ear was significant at 2 h after the burn (9% greater than control values).