A comparative study of the efficacy of nanocrystalline silver gel and silver sulfadiazine cream on the healing of second degree burn wound

Background: The final aim of burn management is to prevent infection, to promote early epithelialization as well as healing of wound and betterment of functional and asthetic after effects. The present study aimed to compare the effect of nano crystalline silver gel and silver sulfadiazine cream on the healing of second-degree burn wounds.Methods: After matching the inclusion and exclusion criteriaburn wounds of patients were divided into two parts (sides); one part was dressed with silver sulfadiazine cream and the other one was dressed with nano crystalline silver gel. The wound dressing was changed everyday after washing the wound with normal saline. Wound parameters were measured on the ninth day and twenth day of dressing, using clinical assessment and photographic tool. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using the Chi-square test.Results: In our study, most patients were noted to have increased epithelization, increased granulation tissue, decreased inflammation, decreased wound infection as well as decreased slough following dressing with both nanocrystalline silver gel and silver sulfadiazine cream but there were more in numbers of patients dressing with nanocrystalline silver gel.Conclusions: The effect of nanocrystalline silver gel on the reduction of the healing time and necrotic tissue amount and increasing the granulation, epithelialization, and necrotic tissue type was greater. Considering the above findings nanocrystalline silver gel is more recommended to be used for burn wounds.