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Updated: Apr 12, 2026
Assessment of Acute Wound Healing using the Dorsal Subcutaneous Polyvinyl Alcohol Sponge Implantation and Excisional Tail Skin Wound Models.
Published on: March 25, 2020
Porcine models of cutaneous wound healing
Max Seaton1, Anne Hocking1, Nicole S Gibran1
1Max Seaton, MD, is a general surgery resident at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, and a research fellow in the Department of Surgery at the University of Washington, in Seattle, Washington. Anne Hocking, PhD, is a research associate professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Washington. Nicole S. Gibran, MD, FACS, is a professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Washington and Director of the Burn Center at Harborview Medical Center, in Seattle, Washington.
Abstract:
Cutaneous wound healing in the pig is frequently used as a model for human cutaneous wound healing. In this review, we examine the appropriateness of this model for studying normal and pathological wound healing, and describe models for chronic nonhealing wounds, diabetic wounds, burns, and hypertrophic scars. In addition, we focus on studies that have used pigs to evaluate wound-healing therapies, and discuss genetic engineering technology in the pig that may advance our knowledge of wound healing. We conclude that, although not perfect, the pig offers a versatile model that can be adjusted to mimic a wide range of clinical scenarios.
