Xenoderm dressing in the treatment of second degree burns

In many countries the standard treatment of second degree burns includes the use of local antibacterial agents, frequent debridement of the wound, and frequent dressing changes, which are debilitating and costly. Since accurate information about alternative cures is scanty, this study was conducted to assess the outcome of the use of xenoderm biologic dressings as one alternative.

This descriptive, goal-oriented sampling study was performed on 97 subjects suffering from deep partial thickness burns. Additionally, some of them had superficial and third degree burns. The patients underwent surgical operation and xenoderm dressings. The outcome of xenoderm application was considered such as frequency of dressings, hospital stay, the duration of analgesia use, wound infection, and the formation of granulation and scars at the burns site.

The results of this study indicate that the mean hospital stay from the time the patients were referred to the emergency ward was 6.45+/-5.51 days and it was 4.69+/-5.51 days from the time the operation was performed. The mean frequency of dressings in the interval between the use of xenoderm and the patients' discharge was 1.51+/-1.60 times. 22.9% (22 patients) of the patients did not take any analgesic after the operation. 27.1% of the patients had superficial infection at the burns site. Granulation tissue was observed in 46.9% of the patients.

The finding of the present study suggest that the use of xenoderm reduces the frequency of the dressings, Hospital stay, pain and analgesic. Therefore, the use of xenoderm in the treatment of second degree burns is recommended.