Evaluation of banana leaf dressing for partial thickness burn wounds

An important factor in the healing of superficial and moderate partial thickness burn is early and effective coverage with a dressing that protects the wound from trauma and dessication and is non-adherent. In our country cost is also a very important factor. Disturbed by the pain and anxiety experienced by the patients during and after dressing changes, search for a new dressing material was begun for partial thickness burn wounds and the banana leaf dressing (BLD) was subsequently developed and optimised by June 1996. An open controlled study was carried out to compare banana leaf dressing and boiled potato peel bandage (BPPB), the dressing being used in our Burn Unit since 1994. Thirty patients all less than 40 years of age, with burn size less than 50% TBSA, involving comparable body areas with partial thickness burn, were included in the study. BLD along with a topical agent was applied over the right sided extremity while BPPB was applied with the same topical agent on the left sided extremity. Dressing was changed every day. The pain during dressing change, feeling of comfort and ease of handling dressing was assessed by awarding scores by the patients and care givers for each type of dressing. Analysis of the scores revealed that both BLD and BPPB caused easily tolerable, minimal pain during dressing change in majority of the patients. The days taken for epithelialisation, eschar formation and the need for skin grafting over deep partial thickness burns, did not reveal any significant difference between the areas treated by BLD and those by BPPB. So both the dressings were observed to have equal efficacy in protecting the wounds and aiding healing. Thus, the efficacy of BLD and BPPB was parallel in all respects. But BLD is 11 times cheaper than BPPB. Banana plants can be easily grown, the leaves are easily available throughout the year. The leaves of banana are large thus offering larger surface area and the surface is non-adherent, waxy and cool. The dressing can be prepared very easily with little training. It is also the cheapest dressing available today. We strongly recommend the use of banana leaf dressing for all partial thickness burn wounds in our environment.