title: A prospective clinical trial comparing Biobrane(®) Dressilk(®) and PolyMem(®) dressings on partial-thickness skin graft donor sites.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a single-center, prospective, randomized clinical trial three different configured wound dressings Biobrane(®), Dressilk(®) and PolyMem(®) were compared with each other regarding objective and subjective healing parameters and cost efficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  28 burn patients received surgical treatment with split-thickness skin grafting, while utilizing Biobrane(®), Dressilk(®) and PolyMem(®) as a single bound donor site wound dressing in all patients. Following a standardized case report form, we monitored several parameters such as pain, transparency of the dressing, active bleeding, exudation and inflammation by using the Verbal Rating Scale 1-10 through out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With regard to re-epithelialization, pain and acute bleeding all three dressings were equivalent. Dressilk(®) and Biobrane(®) presented clearly superior to PolyMem(®) in both wound assessment and in the reduction of mild inflammation and exudation. High subjective satisfaction rates were reported with Dressilk(®) and Biobrane(®) dressings in regard to comfort and mobility. During the continuous monitoring period Biobrane(®) outperformed Dressilk(®) by providing higher wound transparency rates and offering a better level of wound control during the entire study period. Regarding their cost efficiency, PolyMem(®) and Dressilk(®) are clearly superior to Biobrane(®).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The "ideal" wound dressing maximizes patients' comfort while reducing pain and the risk of pulling off migrating epidermal cells from the wound surface. In addition reliable wound status evaluation (minimizing complications), an increase of treatment cost value efficacy, and reduced hospitalization rates should be provided. Dressilk(®) and Biobrane(®) were favored by patients and surgeons for providing an effective and safe healing environment, with overall low complication rates with respect to infection and exudation. Regarding cost-effectiveness PolyMem(®) and Dressilk(®) presented superior to Biobrane(®).
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center (CMMC), Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: schulza@kliniken-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: Artemedic AG, Clinic for Plastic Surgery, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Depner
authors.affiliation: IFOM, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center (CMMC), Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lefering
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center (CMMC), Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kricheldorff
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center (CMMC), Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kästner
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center (CMMC), Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul Christian
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University of Witten/Herdecke, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center (CMMC), Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005990:Glycerol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D010146:Pain; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D062326:Re-Epithelialization; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D000072836:Surgical Wound / Q000628:therapy*; D060053:Transplant Donor Site; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C042816:Biobrane; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; C088317:Polymem; D011140:Polyurethanes; D005990:Glycerol
keywords: Cost effective wound care; Partial thickness burn; Reducing complication rates; Reliable wound evaluation; Wound dressing