Evaluation of Nano-Crystalline Silver Dressings in Superficial Partial Thickness Burns
PC05-PC08
Correspondence
Dr. Anshul Jain,
183, Military Hospital, Leimakhong, Manipur, India.
E-mail: anshul163@yahoo.co.in
Introduction: Silver as an antimicrobial agent has been known for the treatment of burns. Silver nitrate causes discoloration of skin and silver sulphadiazine causes tissue irritation and pseudo-eschar formation. Nano-crystalline silver dressings were a significant break-through in the management of burn wounds.
Aim: To assess the efficacy of nano-crystalline silver dressing in management of second degree superficial burns.
Materials and Methods: Thirty patients suffering from second degree superficial burns of different aetiologies were treated and wound healing was closely monitored with regular photographic evidence.
Results: The mean score of pain using numeric and faces pain rating scale was 7.36 at the time of admission. Eighteen patients didn’t have pain at one week. Mean score of remaining 12 patients was 1.5. When the total score is divided by 30 (18+12), then mean pain was 0.6. The mean number of dressing changes required was 4.73. Burn wounds of four patients epithelialised completely within one week requiring no more dressings, whereas 18 patients took up to two weeks and eight patients required more than two weeks for epithelialisation. However, complete healing was observed in all patients at four weeks and at three months follow-up, the scar was supple with no evidence of raised skin or hypertrophy.
Conclusion: The ease of use, powerful antibacterial effect, lower frequency of dressing change, good molding, short time of wound clearing and epithelialisation, and painless dressing change are the advantages of nano-crystalline silver dressing which provide reasons to consider it as highly efficient for application in superficial burns of second degree.