Healing of electrosurgical and scalpel wounds in rabbits

Skin wounds in rabbits were tested after healing periods of up to three weeks to determine if scalpel wounds differed from those made electrosurgically. Tensile tests showed that the electrosurgical wounds were initially stronger, but at four days there was no difference. Thereafter the scalpel wounds were stronger and their healing progressed much faster. Histological preparations showed more extensive inflammation and necrosis in the electrosurgical wounds.