Effect of dexamethasone treatment in rats with experimentally induced electrical burn mode

In our study conducted at the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery of Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, we aimed to observe the anti-inflammatory effect of dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid, in the treatment of electrical burns, which is a common issue in plastic surgery consultations, and to investigate how this effect might influence the complications that can arise after an electrical burn. Our study was conducted on Wistar Albino rats subjected to electrical burns. A group was formed to evaluate baseline values, and two groups were sacrificed at the 36th hour to assess the effect of a single 1 mg/kg intraperitoneal dexamethasone dose after the electrical burn. Additionally, two groups received 1 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal dexamethasone treatment for one week, with one treated and one untreated group sacrificed at the end of the week. Blood samples were sent for biochemical analysis, and tissue samples from the burn transition zones were evaluated histopathologically. The rats and amputates were weighed before and after the study, and measurements, biochemical, and pathological data were statistically analyzed. In our study, the positive effects of a single dose of dexamethasone were observed both clinically and molecularly. However, the 1 mg/kg/day dexamethasone treatment for one week led to side effects, including weight loss, depression, and increased neutrophil count. In conclusion, while dexamethasone demonstrated beneficial effects, we also observed dose- and duration-dependent side effects. Keywords: Electrical burn, dexamethasone, edema, necrosis, oxidative stress