Transdermal sustained-delivery oxygen improves epithelial healing in a rabbit ear wound model

Hypothesis: Transdermal sustained-delivery oxygen therapy improves wound healing. Design: Experimental study using a well-established rabbit ear model for acute wound healing. Setting: Wound-healing research laboratory in a university center. Methods: Four full-thickness 7-mm punch wounds were created on each ear of young, female New Zealand white rabbits. Treated ears received transdermal sustained delivery of oxygen via silicone tubing tunneled subcutaneously to a pocket under a semiocclusive dressing. Oxygen production (100% oxygen at 3 mL/h continuously) relied on a small, self-contained device connected to the silicone tubing and secured to the rabbit's back for the duration of the experiment using a body harness. Ears were harvested at each of 2 time points: day 5 and day 8. Results: Histologic analysis of the wounds showed significantly greater healing at both day 5 and day 8 in response to oxygen therapy. Most significantly, epithelial wound coverage was almost doubled in treated ear wounds when compared with controls. Conclusion: Our results suggest that epithelial wound healing is improved by transdermal sustained-delivery treatment with 100% oxygen.