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The quality of pediatric burn scars is improved by early administration of basic fibroblast growth factor

Sadanori Akita1, Kozo Akino, Toshifumi Imaizumi

  • 1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Developmental and Reconstructive Medicine, Nagasaki University, Graduate School of Biomedical and Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.

Journal of Burn Care & Research : Official Publication of the American Burn Association
|May 9, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment significantly improved scarring in pediatric second-degree burn patients. This advanced healing led to better scar appearance and function compared to conventional methods.

Area of Science:

  • Regenerative Medicine
  • Pediatric Burn Care
  • Wound Healing Research

Background:

  • Pediatric second-degree burns present challenges in accurate evaluation and can lead to significant scarring.
  • Delayed healing of pediatric burns often results in hypertrophic scars, impacting both aesthetics and function.
  • Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a cytokine with demonstrated efficacy in accelerating wound healing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the scarring of second-degree pediatric burn wounds.
  • To compare the scar quality and skin barrier function in pediatric burn patients treated with bFGF versus conventional methods.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving 20 pediatric patients (8 months to 3 years) with second-degree burns.
  • Patients were divided into two groups: conventional treatment (n=10) and treatment with bFGF (n=10).
  • Scar assessment included clinical evaluation (pigmentation, pliability, height, vascularity) and objective measurements using a moisture meter at least one year post-healing.

Main Results:

  • bFGF-treated scars showed significant improvements in pigmentation, pliability, height, and vascularity compared to conventional treatment (P < .01).
  • Objective moisture meter analysis revealed significantly less transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in bFGF-treated wounds (P < .01).
  • The effective contact coefficient was significantly lower in bFGF-treated wounds, indicating better stratum corneum function.

Conclusions:

  • Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) treatment enhances the healing of pediatric second-degree burn wounds, leading to improved scar quality.
  • bFGF therapy positively impacts both the clinical appearance and objective measures of skin barrier function post-healing.
  • These findings suggest bFGF is a promising therapeutic agent for minimizing detrimental scarring in pediatric burn patients.

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