A randomised clinical trial comparing a hydrocolloid-derived dressing and glycerol preserved allograft skin in the management of partial XXXX .

@entity1 @entity92 @entity1184 @entity4808
Membranous dressings for the treatment of partial and mixed @entity4808 are among the most innovative and promising new developments of the last years. In this study, we present data of a randomised prospective comparative study on a carboxymethylcellulose based dressing, Hydrofibre((R)) and glycerolized @entity1 allograft skin. In a 2 year period, 80 @entity1 (40 for each material) were enrolled in the trial. Study wounds (<10% TBSA) that had not re-epithelialised after 14+/-3 days were debrided and grafted or, if small enough, managed with a topical antimicrobial agent. Mean total TBSA was 8.3+/-5.2%, study burn 3.7+/-2.0% for the Hydrofibre((R)) group and 7.3+/-4.3% total, 3.4+/-2.1% study burn for the allograft skin group (n.s. Wilcoxon rank sum test). No significant differences between groups were established in number of @entity1 with superficial/deep burns. In both groups about 2/3 of the @entity1 healed completely with the dressings applied (24/40 versus 27/40 for Hydrofibre((R)) versus allograft skin, respectively). However, a higher incidence of post-study excision and grafting was found in the Hydrofibre((R)) group (45% versus 15% in the allograft skin group, P=0.004, Mann-Whitney). At 10 weeks follow-up no significant differences were seen in scar colour, pigmentation, pliability, height or itching (Vancouver Scar Scale). Skin elasticity, measured by the Cutometer((R)), was significantly better for the allograft group (P=0.010, Wilcoxon). These differences were no longer found at 6 months and 1 year follow-up. Incidence of @entity1184 after 6 months was higher, but not significantly, in the Hydrofibre((R)) compared to the allograft skin group (52.5% versus 30%, P=0.09, chi-square). In view of the results from our comparative study on Hydrofibre((R)) versus allograft skin, we prefer the use of allograft skin for the category of larger burns of @entity92 , usually presented to burn centres. However, for partial thickness and small burns Hydrofibre((R)) can be the first choice in treatment.
