Treatment of Burns in Adult Patients With a Concentrated Surfactant Gel: A Real-life Retrospective Evaluation

Abstract

Introduction: Debridement is often a necessary step in wound care. In burn care, typically, surgery or enzymes are used for this purpose.

Objective: In a real-life retrospective study, the autolytic debridement properties of a concentrated surfactant gel (CSG) were assessed.

Materials and methods: Thirty patients who had burns that ranged from superficial partial thickness to full thickness and did not exceed 10% total body surface area were evaluated retrospectively with regard to outcomes of their treatment with CSG alone or in combination with bacitracin ointment (CSG-BA). Both materials were applied daily. The hypothesis of the study was that CSG, by providing moisture to the wound in combination with debridement via micelle action, would provide debridement without the need for surgery or enzymes and would lead to healing times similar to those for wounds treated with other modalities. Burn depth was determined visually.

Results: Of the CSG-treated burns, 88.2% were mixed partial thickness, deep partial, or full thickness, and 64.7% of these lesions reepithelialized completely or showed satisfactory healing progression within a time frame that is similar to published results with other treatment modalities. Secondary autografting was necessary in 1 lesion.

Conclusions: On average, the CSG-BA-treated burns were less deep and smaller than the CSG alone. All wounds reached complete healing or showed continued healing progress.