The coarse of tissue swelling in human non-injured skin after burn inj
ury was investigated with a non-invasive impression method that measur
es force and tissue fluid translocation during mechanical compression
of the skin. Time-dependent changes in the fluid translocation and the
interstitial-pressure related to impression force were measured on 11
occasions, during 3 weeks, in seven patients postburn. A mathematical
model was Fitted to the impression force curves and the parameters of
the model depicted the time-dependent compartmental fluid shift in th
e postburn generalized oedema. Tissue fluid translocation increased si
gnificantly (P < 0.05) up to a maximum value after 6 days postburn and
declined thereafter This indicated a continuous increase in the gener
alized postburn oedema for the first 6 days postburn. Impression force
at 3 weeks postburn was significantly lower (P < 0.001) as compared w
ith the half-day postburn value, indicating an increased tissue pressu
re during the first days postburn. Parameter analysis indicated a flux
of water-like fluid from the vasculature to the interstitial space du
ring the first 6 days postburn. The spread of the values registered be
tween different measurement sites was, however, large.