Effects of chronic renal failure on wound healing in rats. I. Biomechanical study.

Chronic renal failure was induced in rats by a five-sixths nephrectomy, after which incisional wounds were made in the abdominal skin, aponeurosis of linea alba, stomach and colon. Bursting strength of the colon and tensile strength of the skin, aponeurosis and stomach were usually lower in the uremics than in the controls, but there was no statistical significance except for colonic wounds on the 7th and 10th postoperative days. Before these results can be extrapolated to clinical cases, pre- and post-surgical treatment must be considered, because immunosuppressants, anticoagulants, and other compounds may influence the retardation of wound healing.