The differential effect of corticosteroids on wound disruption strength in mice

G. H. Dostal and R. L. Gamelli
Department of Surgery, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington 05405.

The detrimental role of corticosteroids on wound healing is well recognized. This study examined the effect of equipotent anti-inflammatory doses of dexamethasone sodium phosphate, methylprednisolone sodium succinate, or hydrocortisone sodium succinate on wound healing in mice. Mice were injected daily for 12 days; the mice were wounded on day 3 of steroid injection, with wound analysis done on day 10 after wounding. Dexamethasone and hydrocortisone significantly impaired wound healing, as assessed by wound disruption strength when compared with controls or methylprednisolone. Dexamethasone and hydrocortisone both displayed dose-dependent relationships for impairment of healing, while over comparative doses, methylprednisolone failed to affect healing significantly. Regression analysis revealed nearly identical curves for hydrocortisone and dexamethasone that differed significantly from that of methylprednisolone. Our observations suggested that these preparations possessed a differential effect on the healing wound that should be considered to minimize postsurgical or traumatic wound-healing problems.