Evaluation of the efficacy of Agicoat in the treatment of partial-thickness skin graft donor sites of burn patients.

Introduction: Burns is the most common condition that requires extensive skin grafting. Treatment of burns is associated with long hospital stays, expensive medications, multiple surgeries, and long-term rehabilitation. Rapid healing of skin donor areas in partial-thickness burn wounds is important for the patient. Partial-thickness skin grafting is a technique that can reduce healing time and improve the treatment. Nanocrystalline silver contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Agicoat in the treatment of partial-thickness skin graft donor sites of burn patients in terms of healing time, pain and scarring.

Method: This clinical trial study was performed on 100 patients who burn and were referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran from July to January 2020. Patients with second- and third-degree burns who had burned 10 to 30 percent of their body surface and required partial-thickness skin graft surgery, were considered for this study. Each patient was compared to herself. The skin donor site was then randomly divided into three parts A, B and C and each part was dressed with Agicoat^TM, Mepitel and Vaseline gauze. On days 4 and 8, the amount of pain when changing the dressing was recorded based on visual analog scale (VAS). After six months, the patients were evaluated and compared for the scarring site based on Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS).

Result: Comparison of the average healing time between groups showed that the average healing time in both groups was significantly shorter than the Vaseline group (P=0.005). Comparison of wound pain between groups on Day 4 showed that the mean pain in the Agicoat group and also the Mepitel group was significantly lower than the Vaseline group (P=0.004). However, Agicoat and Mepitel groups did not show a significant difference. Also, a comparison of pain between groups on Day 8 and the mean VAS six months after skin graft showed no difference between groups.

Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, if the Agicoat dressing is cost-effective, it can be a good alternative to cover the wound of the skin donor site, and it heals faster and reduces pain.