Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Severe Burn Injury in a Swine Model for Clinical Dressing Assessment
Published on: November 6, 2018
Effects of a normothermic dressing on pressure ulcer healing
L C Kloth1, J E Berman, S Dumit-Minkel
1Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Objective:
To determine the effects of radiant heat applied through a semiocclusive dressing on periwound skin temperature and wound healing.
Design:
Before-after trial.
Setting:
Spinal cord injury and geriatric units of a VA medical center.
Patients:
Twenty inpatients with 21 Stage III and IV pressure ulcers.
Interventions:
A semiocclusive, heated dressing was applied to 15 Stage III and IV pressure ulcers for 4.5 hours, Monday through Friday, for 4 consecutive weeks. The dressing emitted heat at 38.0 degrees C for 2 60-minute periods daily. At all other times, the wounds received only standard wound care. Six wounds in a separate control group received only standard wound care during the same 4-week period.
Main Outcome Measures:
Periwound skin temperature within and adjacent to the dressing and measurements of wound surface area.
Main Results:
Mean skin temperatures inside and outside the heated dressing increased by 0.97 degree C and 1.08 degrees C (P < .05), respectively, from baseline values. Wounds treated with standard care plus the heated dressing underwent a statistically significant reduction in mean surface area of 60.73%. Wounds in the control group underwent a statistically insignificant reduction in mean surface area of 19.24%.
Conclusion:
Wounds treated with a radiant heat dressing healed significantly faster than wounds that received only standard care. There were no adverse effects from the radiant heat dressing.
Related Concept Videos
Decreased Body Temperature
Phases of Wound Repair
Formation of Blood Clot
In case of deep injuries, trauma to blood vessels results in blood loss. In the meantime, phospholipids released from the ruptured endothelial cellular membrane are converted into arachidonic...
Burn Injuries
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
Peripheral Artery Disease IV: Nursing Management
Healing II: Complications
Diabetic Foot Ulcer

