OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) on healing of chronic ulcer wound. METHODS From January 1999 to January 2001, twenty-six patients with chronic wounds were adopted in this study. Among them, there were 17 males and 9 females, aged from 12 to 61 years. The area of the chronic wound varied from 3 cm x 3 cm to 5 cm x 8 cm and the disease course was 7 to 16 days. These patients were treated with rhEGF in the way of sprinkling locally (400 U/10 cm2). Another 26 patients with chronic wounds were adopted as the control group and were treated with 0.9% saline in the same way. The healing time of wounds and the local and systemic reactions of patients were observed. RESULTS The healing time of chronic wounds was shorter obviously to about 7 days with rhEGF than that of the control group and there was significant difference between the two groups(P lt; 0.01). CONCLUSION rhEGF can obviously promote the healing of chronic ulcer wound.