An evaluation of Aquaphor Gauze dressing in burned children

Aquaphor Gauze was evaluated as a dressing for skin graft donor sites, for partial thickness burn injuries and for split thickness skin grafts. Control dressings consisted of: fine mesh gauze for skin graft donor sites. silver sulphadiazine (Silvadene) on coarse mesh gauze for the partial thickness burns, and nitrofurazone cream (Furacin) on fine mesh gauze for the skin grafts. The Aquaphor Gauze was found to be inferior to the fine mesh gauze for donor site dressings. No statistically significant difference was identified between Aquaphor Gauze and controls for the treatment of partial thickness burns. As a dressing for skin grafts the Aquaphor Gauze was significantly superior to the control dressing as measured by graft take and reduced patient pain. We would recommend that Aquaphor Gauze be used as a dressing for skin grafts where the risk of infection is not excessive.