(WHS-P4.06) IMMEDIATE APPLICATION OF TOPICAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENTS ON BURN WOUNDS AND THEIR EFFECT ON HEALING
Friday, May 17, 2024
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM East Coast USA Time
Introduction Though recent advances in the treatment of burns have considerably improved overall survival rates, they have also highlighted several long-term sequelae related to the injury. Hypertrophic scars, for example, can impair function, reduce quality of life, and require multiple procedures as well as physical therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of topical application of anti-inflammatory drugs on burn wound progression, overall wound healing, and quality of healing. Materials and Methods 15 deep-partial thickness burns were created on the dorsum of four anesthetized swine using a custom burn device at 100°C. Analgesia was provided prior to all surgical procedures with buprenorphine and the animals were monitored for pain twice every 24 hours for the first 72 hours. The burn wounds were randomized to receive amiloride, celecoxib, dexamethasone or minocycline formulated in a hydrogel. Silver sulfadiazine cream and blank hydrogel acted as controls. The animals were followed for 90 days and the wounds were assessed on days 3, 14, 28 and 90 post-burn. Assessments were performed using digital photographs (macroscopic healing, contraction), laser-Speckle imagery (blood perfusion), 3D camera (scarring, pigmentation), and histology (burn wound depth, epidermal thickness, rete ridges). Results 15 deep-partial thickness burns were evaluated. It was shown that on day 3, burn depth varied from 155 µm (celecoxib) to 222 µm (blank hydrogel) but no statistically significant differences were observed. In terms of wound healing, the results showed that by day 14 post-burn, percent wound closure ranged from 45% (dexamethasone) to 84% (celecoxib) but no significant differences were observed. By day 28 post-burn all the wounds were fully healed. Quality of healing was studied on day 90 post-burn. Wound contraction varied from 28% (celecoxib) to 43% (minocycline) but no significant differences were seen. No differences were observed in the thickness of epidermis or number of rete ridges. Conclusions This study concluded that topical application of amiloride, celecoxib, dexamethasone or minocycline formulated in a hydrogel did not mitigate burn wound progression, promote wound healing or increase quality of healing when compared to controls.