The microclimate chamber: the effect of continuous topical administration of 96% oxygen and 75% relative humidity on the healing rate of experimental deep burns.

The healing rate of small experimental burns continuously treated topically with 96% O2 and 75% relative humidity was followed for 25 days. Serial image photographic magnifications (tenfold throughout) of the wounds enabled precise measurements of their size by means of a polar planimeter. Healing rate was expressed as decreased percentile of wound size on a given day compared to the initial area. The mean percentages of healing +/- SEM of the humidified O2 treated wounds on postburn days 6, 11, and 16 were 31.25 +/- 6.15, 82.09 +/- 3.52, and 98.29 +/- 1.46, respectively, and those for the control wounds were 7.08 +/- 2.20, 47.68 +/- 3.39, and 84.41 +/- 1.38, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences in the healing rate between O2-humidity-treated and control wounds (p less than 0.005). The results indicate that topical treatment with 96% O2 and 75% relative humidity improved healing of experimental burns in guinea pigs.