Dr Anjana Bairagi^1,2, Dr  Zephanie Tyack^1,3,4, Prof  Roy  Kimble^1,2,4, A/Prof Dimitrios Vagenas⁵, Prof Steven M McPhail^3,6, Dr  Bronwyn  Griffin^1,2,7

¹Centre for Children’s Burns and Trauma Research, Centre for Children’s Health Research and Pegg Leditschke Children’s Burns Centre, Queensland Children’s Hospital, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service,, Brisbane,, Australia, ²Queensland University of Technology, Burns Trauma Research, Centre for Children’s Health Research,, Brisbane,, Australia, ³Queensland University of Technology, Australian Centre for Health Service Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation,, Brisbane,, Australia, ⁴The University of Queensland,, Brisbane,, Australia, ⁵Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Health, Research Methods Group,, Brisbane,, Australia, ⁶Metro South Hospital and Health Service, Clinical Informatics Directorate,, Brisbane,, Australia, ⁷National Health and Medical Research Council, Centre of Research Excellence -Wiser Wound Care, Menzies Health Institute of Queensland, Griffith University ,, Brisbane,, Australia

Abstract:

Introduction: Longer time to re-epithelialisation is associated with elevated risk of scarring in childhood thermal burn injuries. Consequently, wound management approaches focus on promoting expedient burn wound re-epithelialisation and minimizing scar-related risk. The BRACS Trial evaluated three dressings in the management of partial thickness burns in children.

Method: All children age ≤ 16years presenting with ≥ 5% total body surface area burns within 48 hours of injury were included. Children were randomised to silver dressings, Spray-On Skin® or Biobrane®.  Outcomes measured included time to re-epithelialisation (primary), pain, itch, treatment satisfaction and scar specific health related quality of life at each dressing application up to the primary endpoint of ≥95% burn wound re-epithelialisation and long term follow up to 12 months post injury.

Results: Twenty-two children were assigned silver dressings (n=8), Spray-On Skin® (n=7) and Biobrane® only (n=7). The median time to re-epithelialisation was the same for Spray-On Skin® median=12 (IQR 5.6 – 18.4) days and silver dressings median=12(IQR 3.7 – 20.3) days, compared to Biobrane® median=14(6.3 – 21.7) days.  Reduced pain, fewest dressing changes under general anaesthesia and least adverse events were reported in the Spray-On Skin® group compared to the other groups. Secondary outcomes to be presented.

Conclusion: Treatment of paediatric partial thickness burn wounds with Spray-On Skin® resulted in the same re-epithelialisation time as silver dressings (control), and was two days faster than the Biobrane® only group. In addition, burn wounds treated with Spray-On Skin® were associated, in general, with lower number of adverse effect (i.e. wound infections, sepsis, skin graft).

Biography:

Dr Anjana Bairagi is a paediatric surgeon currently working towards completion of a PhD a in her capacity as an Honorary Research Fellow(Paediatric Surgery) at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.