How effective are hydrocolloid dressings for partial thickness burns?
A study compared a hydrocolloid formulation with silver sulphadiazine/chlorhexidine parafin gauze dressings in the outpatient management of small partial skin thickness burns. Burn wounds were followed until complete re-epithelialization occurred. There were no statistical differences between the groups, with respect to healing time, and patients’ subjective responses to treatment. However, dressing application (but not removal) was easier in the hydrocolloid group. Furthermore, the that group had significantly fewer dressing changes; a mean of three changes per subject group compared with eight in the silver sulphadiazine/chlorhexidine parafin gauze group. In this study, both modalities were found to be equally suitable and effective for small partial skin thickness burns. Reference: Afilalo M., Dankoff J., Guttman A., Lloyd J., DuoDERM hydroactive dressing versus silver sulphadiazine/Bactigras in the emergency treatment of partial skin thickness burns.
