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Evidence summaries

Topical Negative Pressure (Tnp) for Partial Thickness Burns

There is no evidence of the effect of topical negative pressure (TNP) for the treatment of thermal burns. Level of evidence: "D"

A Cochrane review 1 (abstract , review [Abstract]) included 1 study with a total of 20 subjects. Total burn surface area [TBSA] ranged from 5 to 40%, mean 16%, with bilateral thermal hand burns treated less than 24 hours post injury. The patients were randomised to either TNP (125 mmHg pressure) applied for 48 hours or silver sulphadiazine (SSD). The methodological quality of the trial was poor. In primary outcomes, there was a significant difference in burn size in TNP group at day three (P< 0.09) and day five (P<0.04), but not at day 14. No data were presented beyond p values. No data for time to complete healing or proportion of wounds completely healed within the trial period were reported. There were no discernable complications with TNP treatment of the acute burn.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by potential reporting bias (only one small trial reported) and by by study quality (inadequate or unclear allocation concealment).

References

  • Wasiak J, Cleland H. Topical negative pressure (TNP) for partial thickness burns. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007 Jul 18;(3):CD006215 [Review content assessed as up-to-date: 31 August 2010]. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords