Wound contraction and zinc absorption during treatment with zinc tape.

Wound healing, wound contraction and zinc absorption were studied in rats operated on with excisional wounds on each side of the dorsolateral aspects of the backs. The wounds were covered with plastic foil, plastic tape or zinc tape. The shortest healing time was seen in wounds treated with plastic foil when the contralateral wound was treated with zinc tape. Final wound contraction was decreased when the wound was treated with plastic-coated tape and zinc tape that was fixed to the surrounding skin. An increase in serum zinc concentration was seen 7 days postoperatively when the animals were treated with zinc tape and a decrease in serum zinc concentration was seen at the same time when only plastic foil was used.