Use of fresh amnion as a burn dressing

Thirty-seven children with second and third degree burns dressed with amnion were compared to seventy-three children treated with Furacin (Eaton Labs, Norwich, N.Y.) dressing. Amnion was found to be as easy to use as Furacin. Fewer split thickness skin grafts were needed in amnion treated children and these patients required fewer days of hospitalization. Bacterial culture data suggests that amnion is as good as and possibly superior to nitrofurazone in decreasing the number of organisms on the burn wound. No adverse reactions to amnion were noted. The use of amnion is supported by this preliminary study and is deserving of further investigation and clinical use.