Long-term patient-reported outcomes in pediatric partial-thickness burns using Epiprotect® and Biobrane® a...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric burn management
• Wound healing and skin regeneration
• Biomaterials in reconstructive surgery

Background:

• Larger pediatric partial-thickness (PT) burns often require debridement and skin substitutes for effective management.
• Epiprotect® has demonstrated comparable acute surgical outcomes and reduced infection rates versus Biobrane®.
• Limited long-term outcome data exist for Epiprotect® compared to Biobrane® in pediatric PT burn cases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comparative analysis of long-term patient-reported outcomes between Biobrane® and Epiprotect®.
• To evaluate outcomes in pediatric patients with PT burns using the Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile (BBSIP).

Main Methods:

• Inclusion of pediatric patients (<18 years) treated with Biobrane® or Epiprotect® for PT burns.
• Utilizing the BBSIP survey administered more than 12 months post-injury.
• Statistical analysis including Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and negative binomial regression, adjusting for total body surface area (TBSA) and burn depth.

Main Results:

• A cohort of 48 pediatric patients was analyzed (Biobrane® n=32; Epiprotect® n=16).
• Epiprotect® group showed significantly better total BBSIP scores (median=7.74) than the Biobrane® group (median=8.06; P=0.0145).
• Multivariable analysis confirmed Epiprotect® was associated with lower total BBSIP scores (β=-0.22, P=0.04) after adjusting for TBSA and burn depth.

Conclusions:

• Epiprotect® use in pediatric PT burns is linked to superior long-term patient-reported outcomes compared to Biobrane®.
• The benefits of Epiprotect® appear more pronounced in cases involving larger or deeper burns.
• These findings support the use of Epiprotect® when prioritizing long-term functional recovery and patient well-being.