Early experience of BTM in acute and reconstructive paediatric burns
William Crohan1, Samantha Lee1, Sarah Bache1, Suzanne Rea1, Fiona Wood1, Helen Douglas1, 1Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia
Abstract
Introduction:
Dermal substitutes have been used in the paediatric burns unit at Perth Children’s Hospital in Western Australia for acute and reconstructive burns since 1993.
Since 2019 our team has exclusively used NovoSorb® Biodegradable Temporising Matrix (BTM) in acute and reconstructive burns. We have reviewed our data to compare these early outcomes.
Methods :
A retrospective review was conducted of our electronic database; analysing all paediatric burn patients treated with BTM at the state paediatric burns service between 2018 and 2022.
Results:
There were 10 patients (ages 15 months – 13 years, mean 5.85 years) in total with 11 wounds treated with BTM; 8 acute burns and 3 reconstructive burns.
The mean total body surface area (TBSA%) affected was 13% (range 1%-54.5%) and the total TBSA% treated was 3.87% (range 1%-18%).
The average follow up time was 42 months (3-94 months) and the mean time to delamination was 20.75 days.
There were no grafts or neodermis matrices lost due to infection.
1 patient required BTM to be re-grafted after it became loose, whilst no patients required regrafting due to infection. 3 patients experienced partial skin graft loss (less than 20% loss), and 1 patient experienced total skin graft loss due to poor splint compliance. 3 patients have experienced skin contractures.
Discussion
BTM is a new product available and reconstruction of burns patients and those patients who experience full thickness loss of skin. In comparison to its predecessor Integra, the current study suggests that BTM potentially offers a safer, more robust graft with resistance to infection.
Further study is still needed to determine long term scar behaviour, scar quality, and the likelihood of developing contractions.
Conclusion:
The study suggests that BTM is a likely a viable dermal substitute in paediatric populations. Further study is needed.
Biography
Dr William Crohan is an early-career unaccredited Plastics Registrar, currently working at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
He has a strong interest in Burns, as well as Head and Neck reconstructive surgery.
He has completed a Masters of Surgery, and is currently completing a PhD through the University of Western Australia