The effects of burn trauma and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment on wound healing in a surgical incision model were studied. Sixty adult male mice were-used in this study. Under general anesthesia hot water at 97degreesC was applied for 3 sec to the dorsum of the mice in order to achieve 20% burn wound. After burn trauma, full thickness midline skin incision 2 cm in length was performed on the abdominal wall and then were sutured primarily with 4/0 polypropylene. In Group I only skin incision was performed, group II had skin incision and burn, in group III G-CSF (0.03 BU/30 g) was applied intraperitoneally after burn and skin incision. Breaking strength and 5-hydroxyproline (5-HP) levels of the wounds were calculated 5 and 10 days after the procedure. 5-HP levels and breaking strength values showed statistical difference between groups II-III and I-II (p < 0.05). 5-HP levels were lowest in incision and burn group (41.80 mug/mg). Breaking strength levels were also lowest in the same group (0.12 kg) (p < 0.05). These results suggest that third degree burn causes a significant impairment on incisional wound healing and G-CSF ameliorates this impairment. (C) 2004 Tohoku University Medical Press.