Human amniotic membrane vs. silver sulfadiazine dressing in second-degree burns: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Abstract Background Burn wounds require optimal medical management due to associated psycho-emotional and socioeconomic impacts, and severe pain. Utilizing synthetic and biological dressings improves healing and reduces burn wound complications. The present study aimed to compare the outcomes of using a human amniotic membrane (HAM) and conventional silver sulfadiazine (SSDZ) ointment as the dressings, in the management of the second-degree burn wound,2018, Zanjan, Iran. Methods Fifty patients participated in this clinical trial and were divided into two groups by simple randomization. The target group (n = 25) was treated with HAM, and the control group (n = 25) was treated with the SSDZ ointment. The researcher-designed checklist was used to determine the clinical performance in the follow-up assessments on days 7, 14, and 30. Results No significant difference was found in terms of gender, age, and the percentage of the burn wound (P > 0.05). Wound epithelialization (days 7,14, and 30), scar and pigmentation of the wound, pain severity, the amount of analgesia required, and the hospital stay length (on day 30) were significantly less in the target group, compared to the control (P < 0.05). Nonetheless, the treatment costs in the target group (170$) were significantly higher than in the control (71$) (P < 0.001). Conclusion The HAM as a technology-based therapy dressing, albeit expensive, is superior to the SSDZ ointment dressing in terms of wound healing and pain mitigation. Due to the efficiency of this novel product educational policies are recommended to implement technological therapy modules in the medical education curriculum.