title: A clinical evaluation of Biobrane(®) and Suprathel(®) in acute burns and reconstructive surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the treatment of superficial partial-thickness burns, various skin substitutes and temporary dressings offer potential advantages over traditional treatments. Nonetheless, the search for an ideal temporary skin substitute or biosynthetic wound dressing is still a continuous quest. This research aimed to provide objective data on the long-term outcome of Biobrane(®) and Suprathel(®).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight months after the initial burn treatment of Biobrane(®) and Suprathel(®), skin elasticity was measured objectively using a Cutometer(®) and the scarring process was quantified using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median healing time for patients treated with Biobrane(®) was up to 1.8 days shorter then the Suprathel(®) group. Regarding the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), neither the single parameter, nor the total score were significantly different in both groups. In comparison, the Biobrane(®) group demonstrated superior Cutometer(®) parameters in regards to maximal extension, elasticity, retraction and pliability. Despite higher levels of Biobrane(®) group, the differences in the viscoelastic analysis of both substitutes did not vary significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using both substitutes, we observed satisfying results in superficial partial-thickness burn treatment, without any significant differences. Since the treatment of burned patients is associated with high socioeconomic load, the cost factor should be one of the most important criteria in dermal substitute selection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Hand and Burn Surgery, BG-Trauma Center, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Germany. arahmanian@bgu-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahmanian-Schwarz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beiderwieden
authors.forename: Lina-Marie
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Willkomm
authors.forename: Amro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amr
authors.forename: Hans-Eberhard
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lotter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D011091:Polyesters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C042816:Biobrane; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011091:Polyesters; C527789:poly(lactide-co-trimethylenecarbonate-co-epsilon-caprolactone)