Uses and abuses of a biosynthetic dressing for partial skin thickness burns.

The following report reviews 851 applications of Biobrane on partial skin thickness burn wounds awaiting epithelialization. After the patients had been evaluated and resuscitated as needed, the burn wounds were cleansed and debrided. Those evaluated as shallow were treated with Biobrane application. Joint surfaces were splinted for immobilization. The wound was inspected at 24 and 48 h and if any fluid had accumulated it was aspirated and the wound was redressed. When the Biobrane was adherent, the wound was covered with a light dressing and joint immobilization was discontinued. Treatment with Biobrane dressing provided certain advantages over other topical wound care. As the dressing changes were performed less frequently outpatient care was possible, with a resultant decrease in both the length of hospital stay and the ultimate cost of burn care. Wound desiccation is prevented and pain is decreased. Accurate diagnosis of wound depth is crucial if Biobrane is to be used. Very deep wounds will not allow Biobrane adherence, neither will it occur if the wound has a high bacterial count. If joint surfaces are not splinted, the Biobrane will shear and not adhere to the wound. Convex and concave surfaces can be treated with Biobrane, which may need to be meshed.

Meshed Biobrane: a dressing for difficult topography.

Biobrane temporary biosynthetic skin substitute has been well demonstrated in the treatment of superficial and deep wounds. We have used this product nearly 1000 times. It has previously been shown to be ineffective for use in areas with convex or concave topographies or in areas along joint surfaces. The following study covers an attempt to adapt this dressing for use in these difficult areas. Ninety-eight applications of meshed Biobrane temporary wound dressing were placed in anatomic locations, which ranged from the head to the foot, with an 86% success rate.