[Multi-center clinical study of the effect of silver nitrate ointment on the partial-thickness burn wounds].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of silver nitrate ointment on partial-thickness burn wounds, and observe its side-effects.


METHODS
Multi-center, randomized, positive drug paralleled self-controlled trial was carried out. Eighty patients with superficial partial-thickness burns, and 40 with deep-partial thickness burns were randomized into AgNO3 group and SD-Ag group according to drug topically applied to the wounds. The wound healing time, wound healing rate and bacterial culture of the wound, the effect and safety of the drug, as well as drug irritation to the wounds were studied in these two groups.


RESULTS
For the patients with superficial partial-thickness burn wounds, the wound healing time in silver nitrate group was (9.5 +/- 2.7) days, which was obviously shorter than that in SD-Ag group [(10.8 +/- 3.4) days, P <0.01]. The wound healing rate in silver nitrate group on 7 post-burn day ( PBD) was (77.9 +/- 20.5)%, which was obviously higher than that in SD-Ag group [(67.3 +/- 22.6) %, P < 0.01]. For those with deep-partial thickness burn wounds, the wound healing time in silver nitrate group was (21.5 +/- 4.8) days, which was evidently shorter than that in SD-Ag group [(23.3 +/- 6.4) days, P <0.01]. The wound healing rate in silver nitrate group on 20 PBD was (86.6 +/- 15.9)%, which was evidently higher than that in SD-Ag group [(78.5 +/- 17.7)%, P < 0.01]. Silver nitrate ointment has the same antibacterial effect as 1% SD-Ag cream, but it was less painful when applied to the open wounds.


CONCLUSIONS
Silver nitrate ointment is an effective and safe medicament for the clinical management of partial-thickness burn wounds.
Liao
Zhen-jiang
ZJ
Department of Burns, Ruijing Hospital, Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, P. R. China.
Huan
Jing-ning
JN
Lv
Guo-zhong
GZ
Shou
Yong-ming
YM
Wang
Zhi-yong
ZY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009824:Ointments; D012835:Silver Nitrate; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine