An experimental study of the healing of secondary abdominal incisions

Abstract

Summary An experimental study of the healing of separate secondary abdominal incisions in rats has been performed. After an initial right subcostal incision, a vertical leftsided abdominal wound was made 1 or 2 weeks later. Wound healing was assessed by measurement of changes in mechanical strength and collagen deposition. The results indicate that an increase in mechanical strength was not effected by initial wounding despite alterations in collagen metabolism.