Raal ointment compared with 1% silver sulfadiazine cream for the treatment of second degree burns

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the following study is to assess the efficacy of Raal ointment (herbal plant resin) compared with 1% silver sulfadiazine cream as a burn dressing for the treatment of second degree burns covering less than 30% of the body surface area. Materials and Methods: A randomized comparative study was carried out at our institute during August 2010 to June 2012. Ethical committee permission was obtained. Written informed consent was taken from each patient. Fifty patients with second degree burn wounds of approximately equal size present on both half of the body were selected. One side of the wound was treated with silver sulfadiazine cream and the other side of the wound was treated with Raal ointment. Raal ointment is an herbal product made up of resin of Shorea robusta plant. Both the wounds were assessed for parameters such as pain, infection, rate of healing and resultant scar. Results: The average pain score was 7.02 (Scale 0-10) in silver sulphadizine cream group when compared with 5.14 in the Raal ointment group at the end of 24 h (P < 0.0001). At 48 h the average pain score was 6.12 in silver sulfadiazine group, whereas it was 3.86 in the Raal ointment group (P < 0.0001). The result was statistically significant. Infection rate was 20% in silver sulfadiazine group and was only 12% in Raal ointment group. In Silver sulfadiazine group healing was achieved on an average of 19.06 days. In Raal ointment group, it took an average of 17.2 days (P < 0.0001). This shows that Raal ointment dressing helps in decreasing healing time when compared with silver sulfadiazine cream dressing. Resultant scar of both groups were assessed using Vancouver scar scale at the end of 10 weeks and 14 weeks. Both the treatment groups had equal quality of scar at 10 and 14 weeks. Cost-effectiveness was calculated by comparing the cost of the same amount of silver sulfadiazine cream and Raal ointment. Raal ointment was a cost-effective alternative to silver sulfadiazine cream for treatment of burn wound. Conclusion: Raal ointment was found superior in pain control, rate of healing, control of infection and cost-effectiveness than silver sulfadiazine cream for treatment of second degree burns.