EARLY WOUND EXCISION AND SKIN-GRAFTING RESTORES CELLULAR-IMMUNITY AFTER SEVERE BURN TRAUMA

Suppression of cellular immunity following thermal injury may contribu te to the high incidence of postburn sepsis. Early excision and skin g rafting may remove deleterious local wound factors and prevent immunos uppression. The effect on cellular immunity of early burn wound excisi on and skin grafting was investigated in an animal model using female Wistar rats. The development of immunosuppression shortly after burn i njury was shown by popliteal lymph node assay and a 2,4-dinitrofluorob enzene skin reaction test. Excision and skin grafting 2 days after bur n trauma restored parameters to normal. Burned tissue suppresses cellu lar immunity; this effect is preventable by early excision and skin gr afting.