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Comparison of three different dressings for partial thickness burns in children: study protocol for a randomised
Emma Gee Kee1, Roy M Kimble, Leila Cuttle
1Centre for Children's Burns and Trauma Research, Queensland Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Queensland, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. e.geekee@uq.edu.au.
Insights
This study compares three silver-based dressings for paediatric burns, evaluating pain, distress, and healing time. Results will guide optimal dressing selection for better clinical outcomes in children.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric burn care
- Wound healing and management
- Clinical trial design
Background:
- Pain and distress during burn wound care are significant challenges in paediatric patients.
- Silver dressings are standard in Australasia, but evidence comparing specific types is limited.
- Identifying dressings that reduce pain and promote rapid healing in children is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the time to re-epithelialisation and pain/distress levels during wound care for paediatric partial thickness burns treated with Acticoat™, Acticoat™ with Mepitel™, or Mepilex Ag™.
- To identify the most effective silver dressing for paediatric burn wound management.
Main Methods:
- A randomised controlled trial involving children (0-15 years) with acute partial thickness burns (≤10% TBSA).
- Participants allocated to one of three groups: Acticoat™, Acticoat™ + Mepitel™, or Mepilex Ag™.
- Primary outcomes (pain, distress, healing) assessed at each dressing change; secondary outcomes include infection, function, scarring, cost-effectiveness, and staff perspectives.
Main Results:
- Data on wound re-epithelialisation rates, pain scores, and distress levels during dressing changes will be collected.
- Infection status, physical function, scar outcomes, and cost-effectiveness will be analyzed.
- Staff perspectives on dressing usability and effectiveness will be gathered.
Conclusions:
- This study will provide evidence on the comparative effectiveness of three silver and silicone-based dressings for paediatric partial thickness burns.
- Findings will inform clinical practice regarding the optimal choice of dressing to improve healing and reduce patient discomfort.
- The results aim to enhance the standard of care for paediatric burn injuries in Australasia.
Background:
In the paediatric population, pain and distress associated with burn injuries during wound care procedures remain a constant challenge. Although silver dressings are the gold standard for burn care in Australasia, very few high-level trials have been conducted that compare silver dressings to determine which will provide the best level of care clinically. Therefore, for paediatric patients in particular, identifying silver dressings that are associated with lower levels of pain and rapid wound re-epithelialisation is imperative. This study will determine whether there is a difference in time to re-epithelialisation and pain and distress experienced during wound care procedures among Acticoat™, Acticoat™ combined with Mepitel™ and Mepilex Ag™ dressings for acute, paediatric partial thickness burns.
Methods/Design:
Children aged 0 to 15 years with an acute partial thickness (superficial partial to deep partial thickness inclusive) burn injury and a burn total body surface area of ≤ 10% will be eligible for the trial. Patients will be randomised to one of the three dressing groups: (1) Acticoat™ or (2) Acticoat™ combined with Mepitel™ or (3) Mepilex Ag™. A minimum of 28 participants will be recruited for each treatment group. Primary measures of pain, distress and healing will be repeated at each dressing change until complete wound re-epithelialisation occurs or skin grafting is required. Additional data collected will include infection status at each dressing change, physical function, scar outcome and scar management requirements, cost effectiveness of each dressing and staff perspectives of the dressings.
Discussion:
The results of this study will determine the effects of three commonly used silver and silicone burn dressing combinations on the rate of wound re-epithelialisation and pain experienced during dressing procedures in acute, paediatric partial thickness burn injuries.
Trial Registration:
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613000105741.
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