A Porcine Burn Model

Not only are burns a leading cause of accidental death, but they also result in considerable morbidity and disfigurement leading to significant functional and social impairment. Fortunately, most burns are minor and relatively small. As a result, research efforts have largely focused on the local care of burn wounds. Because of moral and ethical considerations, the use of human skin for in vivo experiments is limited. Over the years researchers have used a variety of animal models as well as in vitro preparations to study cutaneous burns. We have developed and validated a porcine model for partial-thickness contact burns, using it to successfully evaluate a variety of therapeutic agents (). This chapter describes in detail the model for assessing burn therapies.