Suprathel® Use During Prolonged Field Care to Promote Healing and Reduce the Need for Grafting of Burn Wounds

Description

We are advocating the study of Suprathel® (Polymedics Innovations GmbH, Denkendorf, Germany), a synthetic wound dressing made of polymers of D-,L- lactate, and ε caprolactone, in the early coverage of burns for use in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCOs) as compared to standard of care. The rationale for studying Suprathel® is its favorable physical characteristics as a portable treatment, ease of application by personnel without formal medical training, proven efficacy in improving outcomes after partial-thickness burn injury to include better pain control, preliminary evidence in decreasing burn wound conversion, and the lack of adverse consequences in covering indeterminant depth or full thickness burns.