The Effectiveness of open dressing with petrolatum jelly in minor burns has not been clearly established. This study determined if the use of open dressings with petrolatum jelly as effective as standard gauze dressing with silver sulfadiazine in treating minor burns in terms of time-to-re-epithelialization, incidence of wound infection,incidence of adverse reactions, and patient acceptance.

Non-extensive superficial partial thickness burns constitute a major proportion of burn injuries. Conventional treatment involves regular changing of absorptive dressings including the application of a topical antimicrobial, commonly silver sulfadiazine. A systematic review has found insufficient evidence to support or refute such antimicrobial prophylaxis. Another review compared silver sulfadiazine dressings with other occlusive and non-antimicrobial dressings and found insufficient evidence to guide practice. Other research has suggested that dressings with petrolatum gel are as effective as silver sulfadiazine. This trial sought to compare the effectiveness of conventional silver sulfadiazine dressings with treatment with petrolatum gel alone.

Patients with superficial partial thickness burns less than 10% Total Body Surface Area were recruited. Patients with burns involving the primary areas (face, hand, groin, joints, feet), previous treatment of the burn wound, previous burn injury to the same area, electrical burns, and patients with inhalation injury were excluded Also excluded were patients with diabetes, known sensitivity or allergy to one of the dressings or their constituents and allergy to NSAIDS, those being treated with systemic steroid medication, and patients with AIDS and AIDS related complex. Participants were then randomized to undergo either open dressings with petrolatum jelly or standard gauze dressings with silver sulfadiazine cream. The number of days to complete re-epithelialization was recorded for each patient. The incidence of wound infection and adverse reactions, notably the occurrence of allergic contact dermatitis was also recorded. The study also assessed both dressings in terms of adherence to the wound bed, ease of dressing removal, pain on application and removal of dressings, time required for dressing change and number of dressing changes in between follow-ups..

A total of 50 participants were recruited. Age, sex, race, health condition, location of burn, % Total Body Surface Area area affected, time lag, causative agent, presence of initial cooling maneuver, medical condition, and associated injuries were similar for petrolatum jelly and silver sulfadiazine groups. There was no significant difference with regard to number of days to re-epithelialization. There was also no significant difference between the two treatment groups with regards to pain experienced during application and removal of the dressings, and the number of dressing changes required in between follow-ups. There was, however, a significant difference between open dressings with petrolatum jelly and silver sulfadiazine gauze dressing in terms of adherence to the wound bed, ease of removal of dressings and time required to change dressings. Open dressings with petrolatum jelly were found to be less adherent, easier to remove, and required less time for dressing change.

Single-center, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Consenting adults 18-45 years old with superficial partial thickness burns less than or equal to 10% total body surface area seen within 24 hours of the injury were randomized to daily dressing either with petrolatum gel without top dressings or conventional silver sulfadiazine treatment with gauze dressings. Primary outcomes were blinded assessment of time to complete re-epithelialization, wound infection or allergic contact dermatitis. Secondary outcomes included assessment of ease, time and pain of dressing changes.

50 patients were recruited and follow up data available for 38. Mean time to re-epithelialization was shorter in the treatment group by more than one day within an overall mean healing time of 7.0 days (p = 0.050). No wound infection or dermatitis was observed in either group. Scores for adherence to the wound, ease of dressing removal and time required to change dressings were significantly better in the petrolatum treatment arm (p < 0.01).

Petrolatum gel without top dressings may be at least as effective as silver sulfadiazine gauze dressings with regard to time to re-epithelialization, and incidence of infection and allergic contact dermatitis. Petrolatum gel appears to be an effective, affordable and widely available alternative in the treatment of minor superficial partial thickness burns in adults.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients aged 18-45 years old
• Superficial partial thickness burns less than or equal to 10% Total Body Surface Area

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with burns involving the primary areas (face, hand, groin, joints, feet)
• Previous treatment of the burn wound
• Previous burn injury to the same area, electrical burn, and patients with inhalation injury
• Patients with diabetes, known sensitivity or allergy to one of the dressings or their constituents and allergy to NSAIDS
• Those being treated with systematic steroid medication
• Patients with AIDS and AIDS related complex