A retrospective analysis of ambulatory burn patients: focus on wound dressings and healing times.
BACKGROUND
In this study, we retrospectively analysed healing times of ambulatory burn patients after silver-based dressings were introduced in late December 2005, and compared the results with those obtained before.


METHODS
Data were collected in November-December 2005 and in January-February 2006. We excluded from the study: (i) admitted patients; (ii) patients with mixed superficial partial thickness and deep partial thickness burns; (iii) patients with full-thickness burns; and (iv) operated patients that came for follow-up. We recorded the age, sex, cause (flame vs scald), burn depth, dressings used and healing times.


RESULTS
We selected 347 patients corresponding to 455 burned areas (64.4% superficial and 35.6% deep; 47.7% treated in 2005 and 52.3% in 2006). During the years 2005 and 2006, there was an increase in the use of silver-based dressings (2005, 9.7%; 2006, 38.7%; chi-squared test, P < 0.001) and a decrease in the use of paraffin gauzes (2005, 66.4%; 2006, 40.3%; chi-squared test, P < 0.001). The healing time of overall burns and of superficial burns showed no significant differences between 2005 and 2006. However, in deep partial thickness burns, a significant reduction was present (2006, 19; 2005, 29 days; Student's t-test, P < 0.01). Among all dressings, paraffin gauzes had the shortest healing times in superficial burns (5 days); with silver-based dressings in deep burns, the healing times were nanocrystalline silver (16 days) and silver carboxymethylcellulose (21 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Results of our retrospective study would suggest that paraffin gauzes are a valuable option in superficial burns, while silver-based dressings are preferable in deep burns.
Gravante
Gianpiero
G
Department of Surgery, Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK. ggravante@hotmail.com
Montone
Antonio
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010577:Petrolatum; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012834:Silver; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
D012834:Silver; D010577:Petrolatum