Mr Brendan Ennis¹

¹The University of Sydney

Abstract:
The use of autologous skin to treat partial thickness burns is not always possible or appropriate, especially in patients with extensive burns whilst allograft skin used as a biological dressing has an inherent risk of tissue rejection.

Synthetic skin substitutes and dermal substrates offer a viable alternative, providing an environment conducive to wound healing.

Biobrane is one such material that is composed of a silicon/nylon/collagen matrix skin that demonstrates good wound adherence, water vapour permeability similar to normal skin, and acts as a protective epidermis until re-epithelisation of the wound is complete.

We report here the functional outcomes using Biobrane for the treatment of partial thickness hand burns at the Severe Burns Unit at Royal North Shore Hospital following a retrospective review of patients admitted between 2014 and 2016. Patients who received Biobrane as a definitive treatment have demonstrated excellent return to full active-range of movement, typically within 14 days post treatment, as well as low incidences of infection.

Biography:
Brendan Ennis is a third year medical student at The University of Sydney. He completed his undergraduate degree in nanotechnology with honours in 2011. His interests lie in plastic and reconstructive surgery and emergency medicine.