Acute healing outcomes in paediatric partial thickness burns using Epiprotect® and Biobrane®: A retrospective comparative study

Abstract

To compare the acute healing outcomes of Biobrane® and Epiprotect® in paediatric partial thickness (PT) burns. All paediatric patients (age <18 years) with PT burns managed using either Biobrane® or Epiprotect® over a 5-year period at our burns unit were included. The primary outcome was time to complete healing. Secondary outcomes included adherence, infection rates, length of hospital stay, duration of acute follow-up and return to the theatre. Among the 99 patients included, 38 received Epiprotect® and 61 received Biobrane®. The mean total body surface area (TBSA) was 6% (range 1%-15%) and median age was 21 months (range 5-169 months). Median time to healing in the Epiprotect® group was 19.5 days and 16 days in the Biobrane® group (P=.14). The median hospitalisation length was the same for both products (2 days, P=.85). Infection rate was lower in the Epiprotect® group (2.6% vs 16.4%, P=.048). There was no difference in adherence rate. These trends were preserved when depth sub-groups were analysed. Adherence and infection rates were not affected by post-operative antibiotics (P>.99 and P=.65, respectively) in either group. The rate of return to the theatre for further surgery was 13.2% for both products (P> .99). Our findings demonstrate that acute healing outcomes with Epiprotect® in paediatric PT burns are comparable to those with Biobrane®, with significantly lower infection rates for Epiprotect®. These results suggest that Epiprotect® is a viable alternative to Biobrane®. Nevertheless, further prospective randomised studies are required to investigate the short- and long-term outcomes.