OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy of biological dressing containing calcium and magnesia (sheep dermis absorbing calcium and magnesia and cross-link with glutaraldehyde) on the management of hydrofluoric acid burns in rats and patients.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly divided into A ( n = 24, normal control, with isotonic saline dressing after burns), B ( n = 32, with isotonic saline dressing treatment after hydrofluoric acid burns), C ( n = 32, with wet-dressing treatment after hydrofluoric acid burns), and D ( n = 32, with biological dressing treatment after hydrofluoric acid burns) groups. The rats in the latter 3 groups were inflicted with 3 cm x 3 cm TBSA full-thickness burns, and mortality, concentration of blood calcium , histopathological observation were carried out at 4,8,24 and 72 postburn hours (PBH), with 8 rats at each time-points. In addition, 46 patients with hydrofluoric acid burns were divided into E (with wet-dressing treatment) and F (with biological dressing treatment) groups to compare the curative effect.

RESULTSThe mortality in A,B,C,D groups were 0,31.2% ,15. 6% ,6. 2% , respectively. The wound in B group was deepened gradually after burns, but that in D group was slighter when compared with that in C group. The concentration of blood calcium in A group was higher than that in B, C and D groups at each time-points, and that in D groups was higher than that in B and C groups. The concentration of blood calcium in D group at 8 and 24 PBH were [(2.215 +/-0.008) ,(2.216 +/-0.008) mmol/L], which were obviously higher than those in B [(1.813 +/-0.017),(1.912 +/-0.013)mmol/L l] and C [(2.015 +/-0.006), (2.018 +/-0. 010)mmol/L] groups, (P <0. 01). The clinical outcome in E group was much better than that in F group.

CONCLUSIONBiological dressing containing calcium and magnesium can be applied in the emergency management and following treatment after hydrofluoric acid burns.