A newly developed hydrofibre dressing, in the treatment of partial-thickness burns

A newly developed, carboxymethylcellulose based hydrofibre dressing, Aquace l(R). was tested for the treatment of partial thickness burns. In this stud y 84 patients with mainly partial thickness burns were included, 76 patient s received 1 or 2 days pre-treatment with a topical antimicrobial agent. Cl inical behaviour showed a strong resemblance with cadaver skin treatment wi th respect to adherence to the wound. Adverse reactions, incidence of clini cal wound infection, healing time and the need for wound excision and graft ing were analysed, as was the final outcome using the 'Vancouver Scar Scale . The mean size of the wounds treated with the hydrofibre dressing was 6.0% , body surface area (min: 1%, max: 18%,). Two patients clinically showed si gns of a wound infection during treatment, but in general wound cultures we re low or negative. In 42 patients (50%) the wounds healed completely withi n 10 days, in six patients (7%) small defects remained that healed by furth er treatment with a topical antimicrobial cream. In 36 patients (43%) excis ion and grafting of the remaining deeper parts of the wounds was performed as this is the standard therapy in the centre for all burned areas that hav e not healed within 2-3 weeks post-injury. The extent of the surgical proce dures was limited since 66.1% of the wound area had healed already at the e nd of the hydrofibre treatment. In 54 patients the outcome of the treatment after 2-3 months was analysed by means of the Vancouver Scar Scale, which showed favourable results in general. and especially for patients who did n ot require surgery. Compared to earlier experience with allograft skin it w as concluded that hydrofibre dressing is a safe, suitable and easy to use m aterial for treatment of partial thickness burns. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.