Abstract
SummaryBackgroundThe face is affected in more than 50% of patients with extensive burn trauma. Effective treatment is of importance to avoid hypertrophic scarring, functional impairment and social stigmatization.Material and methodsAll patients treated with Acticoat7™ due to superficial and deep partial thickness burns of the face between 2008 and 2017 at the intensive care unit (ICU) for burn trauma at the Department for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery of the Medical University of Vienna were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were evaluated for the number of required dressing changes until complete re-epithelialization, bacterial colonization, potential complications and the need for primary and secondary surgery.ResultsA total of 100 patients were analyzed. It took a median dressing change rate of 1 (range 0–5) in the superficial partial thickness and 3 (range 1–11) in the deep partial thickness group. Conservative treatment of deep partial thickness wounds was possible in 79% and 17% of these patients required secondary scar revision. Although bacterial colonization of the wounds frequently occurred, wound infections were rarely observed.ConclusionActicoat7™ is a valuable dressing for treating superficial and deep partial thickness burn wounds of the face in an intensive care unit setting. It enables extended time intervals between dressing changes without an increased risk for complications.
Highlights
Facial burns occur in more than 50% of patients with extensive burn trauma
There is a wide range of alternatives available for partial thickness burns and compared to topical ointments, most of them require fewer dressing changes before complete re-epithelialization takes place [7]
This retrospective study analyzed data from all patients with superficial and deep partial thickness facial burns treated at the 6-bed intensive care unit (ICU) of the Vienna General Hospital between 2008 and 2017
Summary
Facial burns occur in more than 50% of patients with extensive burn trauma. The face represents a fundamental part of the personal identity and is of great importance for social interaction. Treatment of facial burns represents a versatile challenge [1]. Due to the high potential for spontaneous healing of facial burns, early surgical excision of the burn eschar followed by skin grafting is often not indicated as the first-line treatment option [2]. Effective conservative treatment of partial thickness burn wounds of the face is important to avoid delayed wound healing and decrease the risk for hypertrophic scar formation [3]. There is a wide range of alternatives available for partial thickness burns (e.g. antimicrobial silver dressings, hydrocolloid dressings, bioengineered skin substitutes, polyurethane film dressings, hydrogel dressings and silicon-coated nylon dressings) and compared to topical ointments, most of them require fewer dressing changes before complete re-epithelialization takes place [7]
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