Japanese Consensus Document on NexoBrid^®, a Burn Eschar Removal Agent

NexoBrid^® (NXB), an enzymatic debridement agent approved in Japan in 2022, provides a less invasive alternative to surgical excision for burn treatment. However, its optimal therapeutic benefit depends on appropriate patient selection and proper application technique. Existing international consensus documents are not fully applicable to clinical practice in Japan because of differences in available devices and drugs. Therefore, a Japan-specific consensus document was developed by a panel of seven Japanese burn experts, including four plastic surgeons and three emergency physicians.

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted using the Delphi method to achieve expert consensus. Consensus was defined as agreement by at least 80% of committee members for each statement. A total of 27 statements were evaluated over two rounds.

Consensus was achieved for 20 of 27 statements (74.1%) in the first round and for 21 of 27 statements (77.8%) in the second round. The finalised statements were organised into seven categories according to their attributes: indications, pain management, application timing, application technique, post-application wound care, skin grafting, and scarring/aesthetic outcomes.

This consensus document integrates the opinions of plastic surgeons and emergency physicians in Japan, while also incorporating relevant international perspectives, to provide practical guidance on the use of NXB for burn treatment. It is intended to improve the quality of burn care by clarifying efficacy, safety, and precautions associated with NXB use. These recommendations should be updated as further clinical experience accumulates.