Efficacy of Human Amnion in the Treatment of Children with Second- and Third-Degree Burns

Abstract

Introduction: For several decades, human amniotic membrane has been used empirically in the treatment of different diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of human amniotic membrane versus standard dressings in the treatment of children and adolescents hospitalized for II and III degree burns.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out, based on data recorded in medical records of 112 patients between 1 and 16 years of age, 72 (55.35 %) with deep II and 50 (44.64 %) with III degree burns. The effectiveness of the use of human amnion membrane was compared in 46 patients versus standard dressings in 66 patients with II and III degree burns. To evaluate the efficacy of both on events of interest such as hospital stay and wound complications, descriptive and inferential statistics of confidence interval (95 %) for 0.05 level of significance and Odds Ratio (OR) were used.

Results: All 80 patients (71 %) with II and III degree burns were less than five years old. Wound infection occurred in 37 patients (82.2 %). In the group treated with human amnion membrane there was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of infectious complications and hospital stay times. Although standard dressings maintain their effectiveness, OR calculation confirms that human amnion membrane prevents wound infection and shortens healing time.

Conclusions: The richness in extracellular matrix components, growth factors, low immunity, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory activity justify the use of human amniotic membrane in the regeneration of skin with II and III degree burns.