Partial-thickness
burns in children have been treated for many years by daily, painful tubbing, washing, and cleansing of the
burn wound, followed by topical application of antimicrobial creams.
Pain and impaired wound healing are the main problems. We hypothesized that the treatment of second-degree
burns with
Biobrane is superior to topical treatment. Twenty pediatric patients were prospectively randomized in two groups to compare the efficacy of
Biobrane versus 1%
silver sulfadiazine. The rest of the routine clinical protocols were followed in both groups. Demographic data, wound healing time, length of
hospital stay,
pain assessments and
pain medication requirements, and
infection were analyzed and compared. Main outcome measures included
pain,
pain medication requirements, wound healing time, length of
hospital stay, and
infection. The application of
Biobrane to partial-thickness
burns proved to be superior to the topical treatment. Patients included in the biosynthetic temporary cover group presented with less
pain and required less
pain medication. Length of
hospital stay and wound healing time were also significantly shorter in the
Biobrane group. None of the patients in either group presented with
wound infection or needed skin
autografting. In conclusion, the treatment of partial-thickness
burns with
Biobrane is superior to topical
therapy with 1%
silver sulfadiazine.
Pain,
pain medication requirements, wound healing time, and length of
hospital stay are significantly reduced.