Preliminary report on the use of a new hydrocolloid dressing in the treatment of burns

Abstract

Twenty-four patients who were referred to our outpatient clinic for treatment of burns were included in a study to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a new hydrocolloid dressing (HCD). The depth of their burns ranged from superficial partial thickness to full thickness burns and the average size was 1.63 per cent of the total body surface. Seven patients had similar burns on other areas of their body which served as control areas. In six patients healing occurred slightly faster in the HCD treated wounds as compared to silver sulfadiazine (1 per cent), and at least as fast as compared with human allografts in these patients. Two patients were removed from the study; in the remaining non-control group (15 patients) healing progressed rapidly and the patients reported the treatment to be very comfortable. Follow-up visits after 1, 3 and 6 months showed excellent healing and there were no signs of hypertrophic scarring.