An Open-Label, Nonrandomized Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of a Bovine Caritlage&#150Based Wound-Dressing Powder for the Management of Deep and Subdermal Pediatric Burns

Skin-grafting procedures are the treatment of choice for the management of deep second- and third degree burns. However, such procedures are highly invasive, require hospitalization, and are associated with a variety of risks, including infections, hematomas, anesthesia-related complications, and donor-site morbidity. Bovine cartilage–based preparations are well-established facilitators of wound healing, including burns. In this open-label, nonrandomized pilot study, a bovine cartilage–based wounddressing powder was applied to deep and subdermal second- and third-degree burns in 41 children who were unresponsive to conventional therapy with silver sulfadiazine and whose parents refused recommended skin grafting. Healing time averaged 34.8 days, which included the first 2 weeks of conventional treatment. In all cases, the wounds healed completely, with no residual scarring. No infections were detected after the start of treatment with the bovine cartilage–based wound-dressing powder and no adverse effects were reported. Our experience suggests that a bovine cartilage–based wound-dressing powder may be a viable option for the management of pediatric burns.