Clinical Application of Phototherapy (Omnilux(R)) in 2nd Degree Facial Burn

Kwon, Min Ju; Koh, Jang Hyu; Seo, Dong Kook; Lee, Jong Wook; Choi, Jai Koo; Jang, Young Chul

Abstract

PURPOSE
The face is very important body area. So, for burns on the face, early wound healing is important of all. Since B.C.1500, Greeks started using phototherapy for wound healing. Although phototherapy has been studied a long time, the mechanism and result of researches have not been clearly defined. So, the authors will evaluate the effectiveness of the phototherapy, spectrum of 633 nm and 830 nm, and the effectiveness in second degree facial burn.
METHODS
We studied 30 burn patients with second degree burn wounds with symptoms of edema, discharge, and redness whom admitted from August 2006 to May 2008. Wound healing of phototherapy was compared to that with hydro-gel dressing. We evaluated each groups by the time it took for wound to epithelize, swelling disappearance, the amount of exudates, hospital days. Satisfaction question surveyed by patients ranging from 0 to 5 scales with 0 being the lowest and 5 being the highest.
RESULTS
The duration of epithelization was 10+/-2.3 days in cases with phototherapy. Setting the factor's point becoming 1, the duration of cases with hydro-gel dressings was redness 5+/-2.2 days, discharge 6+/-1.8 days, and the average admission days were 11+/-1.6 days. The group with phototherapy was evaluated superior to the control group in satisfaction index by 30%.
CONCLUSION
Simple hydro-gel dressing on facial burn is a routine job. Considering the fact that face is the most prominent sight-catching point, we should try to heal the wound as soon as possible. Phototherapy is the choice that we can use to shorten the duration of redness, the time it takes to epithelize and increase satisfaction index. So if possible, when got a burn on face, authors recommend the phototherapy.