An easy way to manage superficial second degree burn in children

Second degree superficial burn are certainly the most common but the more painful burn encoutered by medical staff. Despite the fact that the prognosis of such type of burn are excellent the management could be difficult due to this important pain. Normaly second degree superficial burn go forward complete healing withintwo weeks maximum. There are a lot of habits and protocols which are used in burn center, but they certainly don’t change the healing time The major problem the medical has to deal with is to reduce the pain until the burn heal.

Methods

We try to evaluate the role that can play HydroTac in the management of second degree burn. To be enrolled patient must have 2° degree superficial burn and must be seen between D0 and D3. The dressing was apply and change was realize 2 times a week until complete healing.

Results

We focus our study on children and evaluated the dressing on 20 patients. The mean age was 6,8years old and the location were : trunk or back ( 9 cases), abdomen ( 4 cases), face (2 cases) , limb ( 5 cases) All the patient healed between D8 and D12. For children who where old enough to evaluate, all have the feeling of pain reduction just after HydroTac was apply. The dressing change was evaluated as unpainful in all cases. Nurses appreciated the dressing because it reduce the need for change, make the management of such type of burn more easy and ensure a good evolution of the burn.

Conclusion

Finaly HydroTac appear to be useful in the management of second degree superficial burn by reducing the pain and the number of dressing change

Clinical relevance

This is a new way to manage superficial second degree burn by reducing the need for dressing change. Dressing are easy to change, children are less painful and could be treated sometimes as outpatient.

F. Duteille
Burn center adults and children, CHU Nantes, France

P. Ridel
Burn center adults and children, CHU Nantes, France

P. Perrot
Burn center adults and children, CHU Nantes, France