The Comparison Between Long-Term Results of Treatment With Amnion Graft and Skin Graft in Children Second Degree Burn Wounds



Omranifard M¹ ; Ansari M² ; Jazebi N² ; Rouzbahani R^{3, 4} ; Akbari M^{3, 4} Show Affiliations
Source: Journal of Isfahan Medical School Published:2011

Abstract

Background: Different types of natural and synthetic materials are now available for treatment of thermal injuries in children and adult patients, all of which have their own advantages and disadvantages. Human amniotic membrane is considered as an influential method of treatment due to its availability and low cost. This study has been conducted to survey the long term (six month) effects of human amniotic membrane on deep second degree burns of children as a primary wound dressing in comparison with skin graft. Methods: Over a period of one year, sixty six patients under 18 with less than 30% second degree and minuscule margins of third degree burn (less than 1 cm) were collected and randomly distributed in two groups. The first group including 34 patients treated with human amniotic membrane and the second group (control group) consist of 32 patients were treated with skin graft. Finding: Considering Vancouver scale score as an index of long term wound healing the control group was superior to amnion group (5.9 ± 2.8 vs. 6.8 ± 1.2, P = 0.027). Mean hospitalization days in amnion group significantly decreased (12.4 ± 7.6 vs. 20.2 ± 10.3 P = 0.006). The number of admissions and treatment costs dominantly declined in amnion group. Conclusion: Primary dressing of burn wounds with amnion membrane is a cost-effective and available method for burn wounds treatment, it also has comparable long term effects in comparison with skin graft. So having an amnion membrane bank in burn centers and widespread use of amnion membrane graft in management of partial thickness thermal wounds in children is recommended.