The use of amniotic membrane in the treatment of burns in children : A clinical trial at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka

Abstract

This is a clinical trial which was carried out at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka from the 1st of July to the 31st of December,1994. It involved treatment of burns in forty children using gamma irradiated amniotic membrane produced at the hospital.The results showed that it is feasible to produce Gamma Irradiated biological dressings from amniotic membrane at this hospital. The amniotic membrane was easy to apply on burns and the treatment was acceptable to the majority of parents with burnt children. The use of amniotic membrane was non inflammatory to the wounds in all forty patients (100%), reduced wound infection in thirty three patients (82.5%), increased the rate of wound healing in thirty nine patients (97.5%) and resulted in good quality wound healing in thirty one patients(77.5% ) . Therefore, the treatment offers a good alternative in the treatment of burns in children at this hospital.