Usability and effectiveness of Suprathel(®) in partial thickness burns in children

PURPOSE: Evaluation of usability and effectiveness of Suprathel(®) in the treatment of partial thickness burns in children. METHODS: A prospective, observational study to evaluate adherence of Suprathel(®) to the wound bed, reepithelialization time, grafting, wound colonization and infection, pain, dressing changes, length of hospital stay (LOS) and scar formation. RESULTS: Twenty-one children (median age 2.4 years, range 5 months–14 years) with a median total body surface area (TBSA) of 4 % (range 1–18) were included. Median LOS was 10 days (range 3–20). Median outer layer dressing changes was 3 (range 1–14). Suprathel(®) was only adherent in wounds debrided with Versajet(®). Median reepithelialization time was 13 days (range 7–29). Three patients needed a split skin graft. There were 7 (33 %) patients with wound colonization before application of Suprathel(®). This increased to 12 (57 %) patients during treatment. One patient developed a wound infection. Median visual analog scale (VAS) scores for background and procedural pain in patients >7 years were 3.2 (range 2–5) and 3.5 (range 2–5), respectively. In younger patients, median background and procedural COMFORT-B scores were 13.8 (range 10–23) and 14.8 (range 13–23, p = 0.03), respectively. Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scores were favorable after 3 and 6 months post burn. CONCLUSIONS: Suprathel(®) provides potential advantages regarding pain and scar formation, but extensive wound debridement is needed to achieve adequate adherence.