
A new study has found that a commonly used cream for treating burns may actually delay healing.
Also, despite the wide range of wound dressings available for burns, there is no consensus on the most effective alternative treatment, say Cochrane Researchers who carried out a systematic review of existing data.
Advertisement
Increased understanding of the wound healing process means that there are now a large number of different ways to treat burns. Films, gels, artificial skins and fibre dressings may all help to heal wounds, but doctors still often turn to traditional gauze dressings, as well as silver sulphadiazine (SSD) cream.
Healthcare providers have used SSD cream since the 1960s to minimize the risk of burns becoming infected, although concerns have recently been raised about its toxic effects on skin cells.
The Cochrane Team who carried out the research found 26 relevant trials.
Although each trial was relatively small they concluded that SSD cream increases the time taken for a wound to heal, as well as increasing the number of dressing applications required.
"We think that the use of SSD cream on burn wounds needs to be reconsidered," says lead researcher, Jason Wasiak, who works for the Victorian Adult Burns Service at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
Trials showed that a number of different dressing types, including polyurethane films, hydrocolloid gels and biosynthetic dressings, can be more effective for treatment of moderate burns than SSD or standard chlorhexidine impregnated gauze dressings.
As well as reducing healing times, some alternative dressings also reduced pain associated with burns.
Many of the trials, however, failed to adequately assess the depth of burns suffered, so the data was less easy to interpret. The researchers say there is a strong case for larger and better designed trials that will help inform doctors about the most appropriate treatments for burns of different severities.
Source: ANI
RAS/L
Advertisement
The Cochrane Team who carried out the research found 26 relevant trials.
Although each trial was relatively small they concluded that SSD cream increases the time taken for a wound to heal, as well as increasing the number of dressing applications required.
"We think that the use of SSD cream on burn wounds needs to be reconsidered," says lead researcher, Jason Wasiak, who works for the Victorian Adult Burns Service at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
Trials showed that a number of different dressing types, including polyurethane films, hydrocolloid gels and biosynthetic dressings, can be more effective for treatment of moderate burns than SSD or standard chlorhexidine impregnated gauze dressings.
As well as reducing healing times, some alternative dressings also reduced pain associated with burns.
Many of the trials, however, failed to adequately assess the depth of burns suffered, so the data was less easy to interpret. The researchers say there is a strong case for larger and better designed trials that will help inform doctors about the most appropriate treatments for burns of different severities.
Source: ANI
RAS/L
Advertisement
Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Readings
Latest General Health News

Seeking internet help for an incomplete antibiotic course resulted in kidney stone formation and urinary tract infection in a young woman.

The Brain Care Score is a tool to evaluate brain health and reduce the risk of brain disorders including dementia and stroke.

Swine influenza A viruses, including subtypes H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2, are prominent among pigs and sporadically transmit to humans.

The microorganism "is a newly identified potential disease-causing agent, possibly originating from or evolving within the dog's microbiome."

Flavanol naturally present in red wine can compromise the proper metabolism of alcohol and lead to a headache.