Dr Monique Bertinetti¹, Ms Nicole Alexander¹, Dr Warwick Teague¹, Dr Danielle  Nizzero¹

¹The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract:

Novosorb® BTM (Biodegradable Temporising Matrix) is a synthetic polyurethane matrix utilised in acute deep dermal and full thickness burns to promote formation of a neodermis prior to delayed grafting. Clinical use of Novosorb® BTM in acute burns was first trialled in adult patients with significant burn in injury in 2014. Despite a growing popularity and application in both adult and paediatric patient groups, there remains a paucity of literature specific to the use of Novosorb® BTM in children.

We report a retrospective cohort of 24 children with acute burn injury managed with Novosorb® BTM. This cohort represents all acute burns patients managed at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne with Novosorb® BTM, dating from our adoption of the product in October 2019 to the current time. The age of children managed with Novosorb® BTM ranged from 3 months to 16 years (average 8.5 years). The mechanism of burn included flame, scald and contact burns, with total body surface area (TSBA) of the resulting burn ranging from 0.1% to 52% (average TBSA 19.4%). All BTM-treated burn wounds were assessed to be full thickness or deep dermal burns. The majority of patients were managed as inpatients, but some experience with outpatient management of children with Novosorb® BTM has also been gained.  The timing of Novosorb® BTM application, integration rates, complications, short and long-term outcomes, and lessons learned will be discussed.

Biography:

Dr Monique Bertinetti is a Paediatric and Burns Surgeon working at The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne. Dr Bertinetti has clinical and research interests in the management of acute burns and their long-term sequelae in children.