Healing of Sharp Incisions and Electroincisions in Dogs: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Healing of incisions made by sharp blade and of those made by electroincision was compared. The electrosurgical unit used generated a wave form that closely resembled a square wave. Six paired incisions were made in the skin and external abdominal muscle fascia of 8 dogs by sharp blade and electroincision, and were sutured. One pair of incisions was made every other day in each dog; fascia and skin were examined at 2, 4,6, 8,10, and 12 days after incision. The presence of certain microscopic features was graded on an arbitrary scale of 0, 1, 2, and 3 for none, slight, moderate, and heavy, respectively; the grades were then averaged and compared. No differences were observed in the quantity of hemorrhage, capillaries, fibroblasts, and collagen and mature fibroblasts. More fibrin, necrosis, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes were observed following electroincision at 4, 6, 12, and 8 to 10 days, respectively. Considerably more edema was present following sharp incision from 4 to 12 days. The strength of wounds made by sharp incision was greater than the strength of those made by electroincision after day 6, but the two were almost identical by day 12. The data suggest that suture removal should be delayed until the 10th postoperative day, approximately 3 days later than is advised for sharp incision.