Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of silver-containing hydrogel dressings in the postoperative management of burns.

Materials and Methods: The study included 20 patients aged between 20 and 60 years with burns of II-III degree with the affected area from 7% to 10% of total body surface area (TBSA). Group I included 10 patients. Postoperative wounds after necrectomy were treated with hydrogel dressings. In the other group of 10 patients (group II) the wounds after the necrectomy were treated in the traditional manner by dressings with fat-soluble ointments.

Results: Dressings used in the group I provide an optimal moist wound environment and moderately absorb wound exudate, The upper layers of the wound surface did not dry up. There were no signs of bleeding from postoperative wounds including diapedesis bleeding. Transparency of the dressings allowed to monitor the wound without removing them. Wounds turned prepared for the autodermoplasty within 6-7 days after necrotomy.
Due to their structure the hydrogel dressings didn’t stick to the wound bed, and the dressing changes were painless: pain assessed 2.5±1.1 points by visual analogue scale (VAS). Hydrogel dressings showed good bactericidal properties for the content of colloidal silver. In no case generalization of the inflammatory process was observed.
In the group II the wounds were prepared for autodermoplasty only in 9-10 days. Dressing changes for the patients of the group II were painful, took place with the use of analgesics, level of pain was 6.1±0.5 points. In 50% of cases in the group II the presence of copious purulent discharge was noted.

Conclusions: Hydrogel silver-containing dressings were shown to be highly effective in the treatment of burn wounds after necrectomy, they reduce the time of preparation the wounds for autodermoplasty and minimize the risk of local infection.


*GelePran

The use of Silver-Containing Hydrogel wound dressings* in the treatment of burn wounds after necrectomy