Lower extremity burns and Unna paste: can we decrease health care costs without compromising patient care?

N J Wells; J C Boyle; C F Snelling; N J Carr; D J Courtemanche

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PubMed · 7497369

Lower extremity burns and Unna paste: can we decrease health care costs without compromising patient care?

N J Wells·J C Boyle·C F Snelling·N J Carr·D J Courtemanche

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare an alternative treatment for lower extremity burns with the standard in-hospital treatment, in an attempt to shorten hospital stay. DESIGN: A case-control series. SETTING: A university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: All patients with a burn isolated to a lower extremity were treated over an 8-month period with split-thickness skin grafting (STSG), Unna paste dressing, immediate mobilization and early discharge. This group was compared with matched controls from the preceding 8 years treated with STSG, occlusive burn gauze dressing, bed rest and hospitalization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of hospital stay and graft viability. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with an average wound size of 131 cm2 were treated with Unna paste and had a graft viability of greater than 95% and a burn-scar rating equivalent to that of patients treated with the earlier regimen. The duration of hospital stay decreased from a mean of 12.9 days to 1.4 days, with no complications. This translated into a saving of $10,350 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: This alternative treatment is safe, inexpensive and effective and is recommended as the treatment of choice for uncomplicated, noncircumferential lower extremity burns.

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N J Wells, J C Boyle, C F Snelling, N J Carr, D J Courtemanche. 1995. Lower extremity burns and Unna paste: can we decrease health care costs without compromising patient care?. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7497369/

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