The great majority of the wounds we treat in our daily practice in pediatric plastic surgery and burn units is represented by acute wounds (mainly burns) which do not stress the vital prognosis but can be challenging to manage. Therapeutic strategies are quite limited: these wounds are usually treated by neutral or impregnated petrolatum gauze or equivalent. This presentation will provide the results of French and German clinical studies. The goals were to evaluate the efficacy, the tolerance and the acceptability of the new contact layer dressing*, in the healing process of pediatric wounds of any etiology. The test dressing was a polyester net impregnated with carboxymethylcellulose and petrolatum. One hundred French and German children, ages one through twelve years, were followed over a period of 4 weeks. Subjects were evaluated on a weekly basis by the medical investigators (clinical and photographic records) and at every dressing change by the nursing staff. The pain parameter was evaluated with pain scales adapted to the patient's age (OPS, Faces, Visual Analogical Scales) at each dressing change. The mean healing time of these wounds (burns in great majority) was equal to those observed with other dressings, but ease of use and comfort were significantly enhanced over prior methods. Use of this new wound dressing* was preferred by the patients and staff, and is now considered standard care in pediatric wound management in these facilities.

*Restore Contact Layer, Hollister Wound Care, Libertyville, IL

Supported in part by Hollister Wound Care, LLC