PORCINE XENOGRAFT OR MICROBIAL CELLULOSE IN THE TREATMENT OF PARTIAL THICKNESS BURNS

Healing time was calculated from the date of injury to the date when the wound bed was assessed as completely (100 %) re-epithelialized, with no need for further dressing changes other than protection against shearing according to the treating physician.

Wound infections were diagnosed (by the burn surgeon) if they fulfilled at least two of the following criteria:

(based on the American Burn Association definition of burn wound infection)

• Clinical signs such as localised pain and swelling, spreading erythema, and heat at the affected site.
• Positive bacterial culture growth of the surface wound swab.
• Signs of systemic infection indicated by a rise in CRP concentration (reference range < 10 mg/L for capillary sampling) together with increased body temperature where other sources of infection have been excluded.

The patients were asked to estimate the burn wound pain at rest, during activity, and during dressing changes using a numerical rating scale (NRS) where 0 indicated no pain and 10 the worst pain ever imaginable.

All patients hospitalized for their burns were monitored by the study nurse and the day of discharge was noted in the CRF. Any readmission after initial discharge was also noted and included in the total length of stay.

Burn scar outcome was evaluated using the Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). The scale includes two separate subscales, The Observer Sscale, used by an experienced burn occupational therapist and the Patient Sscale, used by the study participants.