Clinical application of new bovine collagen membranes as a partial-thickness burn wound dressing

New bovine collagen membranes were applied for covering of partial-thickness burn wounds to compare with porcine skin used as biological dressing. Forty four of investigated patients had superficial (2a degree), and forty four of them had deep (2b degree) partial thickness burn wounds. When nonperforated collagen membranes or porcine skin were used for dressing of superficial (2a degree) burn wounds, time of healing was established as 11 +/- 3.4 (mean + or - sd) and 12+/- 4.9 days, respectively (n=12). For perforated version of the dressings the time of healing was 9 +/- 3.5 and 10 +/- 3.2, respectively (n=10). The differences were nonsignificant in both cases. When nonperforated collagen membranes or porcine skin were used for treatment of deep (2b degree) burn wounds, the time of healing was established as 29 + or - 6.1 and 30 +/- 5.4 days, respectively ( n=10). The differences were nonsignificant as well. We can conclude from our study that new collagen membranes can be considered as biological dressings and can be recommended for partial-thickness burn wound care. Perforated version of the collagen membranes was better than nonperforated.