Abstract:Objective To establish a reliable technical scheme by modifying the location of wounds and the method of sewing so as to overcome the phenomenon of easy contracture of rat wounds and self-biting. Methods Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into three groups with 8 in each group. For group A the anti-contracture full-thickness skin defect was established with the traditional method and then grafted by MEEK technique. For group B the same full-thickness skin defect was established with a modified method and grafted by MEEK technique. For group C the same full-thickness skin defect was established with the modified method without skin-grafts, which was a control group. The wound contraction rates were observed on days 7, 14 and 21 after operation, respectively. The steel wire, suture knot and the growth of skin autografts were observed 21 days after operation. Results The wound contraction rates were significantly different among the three groups on post-operative days 7, 14 and 21 (P < 0.05), the wound contraction rate in the group A was higher than that in the group B (P < 0.05), there was no statistically significant difference in the wound contraction rate between the groups B and C (P > 0.05). Meanwhile, the variation trend of the wound contraction rate was different in the three groups (P < 0.05). The length of total exposed steel wire was 35 cm in the group A, 16 cm in the group B and 13 cm in the group C on the 21st day after operation. There was statistically significant difference in the number of remainder line knots among the three groups on the 21st day after operation (P < 0.05), the number was obviously smaller in the group A. At last, the skin autografts survived in the groups A and B, and grew better in the group B with significant difference (P < 0.05). Conclusions It is more effective to establish the anti-contracture full-thickness excision skin wound model in rats through the change of wound location and suture.