Effectiveness of Beta - Glucan Collagen for Treatment of Partial Thickness Burns in Pediatric Age Group Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial at Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Burn injuries present a major public health problem for children. In India this constitutes about one-fourth of total burn injuries. This article deals with situations that need to be addressed in the care of partial thickness wounds in children to provide optimal conditions for wound protection and repair while minimizing the morbidity and complications. AIM: To compare outcomes for pediatric age group patients who were applied betaglucan collagen or anti-microbial dressing as primary wound covering in respect to pain, infection rate and healing time. DESIGN OF STUDY: Randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Tertiary care hospital of central India from 2008-2010. METHODS: Patients admitted at tertiary care centre with partial thickness burns at first presentation were recruited to randomized controlled trial. Patients in trial were randomly allocated for beta-glucan collagen or anti-microbial dressings. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were recruited over 28 months. Two were excluded from final analysis due to premature demise. Out of seventy subjects thirty-five were in BGC group while remaining thirty-five were in SSD group. Subjects were in 1-11 age range with majority being in 1-5 age groups. Out of total seventy patients thirty-three were male and thirty-three were females. Flame burns and scald burns were equally distributed in both groups and difference was not significant. Most of the patients presented within 6 hrs of initial injury (54.7%). TBSA% in BGC group was 16.4 while it was 18.2 in control group. Most of the patients in both the groups had burn injury over upper limb followed by anterior trunk. Partial thickness burns in children can be cost effectively treated with BGC with decreased pain, mean healing time and hospital stay with good cosmetic results.