Second degree burn wound dressing: a network meta-analysis of healing time

Burns are a common issue affecting around 180,000 people lose their lives annually due to burns. The aim of this study is to investigate dressings based on their ability to enhance the healing process of partial-thickness burns.

This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Searching through MEDLINE, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases. RCTs on partial thickness burn treatments were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration. The primary outcome is the mean time to achieve complete wound healing.

Of the 572 identified articles, 16 RCTs involving 997 patients were included. These studies compared twelve different wound dressing interventions. Hydrocolloid dressings showed the most significant reduction in healing time, followed by silver dressings, biobrane, and aloe vera. The Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) analysis ranked hydrocolloids as the most effective dressing with a score of 90.2%.

This network meta-analysis found that hydrocolloid dressings is the optimum dressing for partial thickness burns, followed by silver dressing and topical heparin. These findings guide clinical decision-making to improve burn care outcomes by highlighting the most effective and cost-effective dressing options.