Evaluation of the Effect of Topical Heparin on the Treatment of Facial Burn

Abstract

Background: Burn is a complex disease process; visible disfigurement caused by burns translates into an altered pattern of socialization which can have serious psychological ramifications. Objectives: The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of topical heparin on the treatment of facial burn regarding pain relief, antibiotic requirements and healing time. Patients and methods: This is a prospective controlled random study. It included 40 patients, 15-60 years old, males and females having acute thermal burn up to 20% TBSA burn including the face. They were subjected either to dressing with topical heparin or topical anti-microbial creams. This study was done at the Burn Unit and Clinic of the Department of Plastic and Burn Surgery at Al-Azhar University Hospitals and El Salam Specialized Hospital. The Burn Unit for in patients and the Clinic for our patients follow up visits after hospital discharge. . The study was done during the period from April 2019 to November 2019. Results: The use of heparin in burns has been shown to maintain blood circulation, relieve pain, limit inflammation, re-vascularize ischemic tissue, regulate collagen and reduce scarring and contractures. The patients dressed with topical heparin suffered less pain, required less analgesics and fewer antibiotics, no-hard dressings, less secondary procedures and early return to home and work. Conclusion: Our study showed that in patients with facial burns of thermal etiology, the use of topical heparin significantly reduced pain and edema, enhanced faster healing and epithelialization and required less antibiotics than patients treated with topical antimicrobial creams.