title: Effectiveness of cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine in the treatment of facial burns:  a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The face is a very frequent site of burn injuries. This multicenter, randomized, controlled trial thus investigates the effectiveness of cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine in the treatment of facial burns compared with silver sulfadiazine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients with acute facial burns admitted to Dutch burn centers were randomized to treatment with either cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine or silver sulfadiazine. Primary outcome was need for surgery and time to wound healing. Aesthetic and functional outcome was assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months after burn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From March of 2006 until January of 2009, 179 patients were randomized and 154 could be included. The two groups of patients (cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine group, n=78; silver sulfadiazine group, n=76), were comparable regarding sex, age, percentage total body surface area burned, and cause. During admission, four patients died, leaving 77 and 73 patients for primary analyses, respectively. Surgery was required in 13 (16.9 percent) compared with 15 patients (20.5 percent) (p=0.57; odds ratio, 0.8; 95 percent CI, 0.3 to 1.8), respectively. Median time to wound healing was 11.0 days in the cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine group (interquartile range, 7.0 to 15.0) and 9.0 days for silver sulfadiazine group (interquartile range, 5.0 to 15.75) (p=0.17). There were no significant differences in functional and aesthetic outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No differences were found in effectiveness of both treatments. The vast majority of facial burns do not require surgery, and treatment with cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine and silver sulfadiazine leads to satisfactory outcome, both aesthetically and functionally.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, II.
authors: Rotterdam, Beverwijk, and Groningen, The Netherlands From the Burn Centre, Maasstad Hospital, and the Association of Dutch Burn Centers of Burn Centre Maasstad Hospital, Burn Centre Red Cross Hospital, and Burn Centre Martini Hospital.
authors: Irma M M H
authors: IMMH
authors: Oen
authors: Margriet E
authors: ME
authors: van Baar
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Middelkoop
authors: Marianne K
authors: MK
authors: Nieuwenhuis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002563:Cerium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; C032786:cerium nitrate; D002563:Cerium; D012837:Silver Sulfadiazine