Outcome Evaluation of Burn Injury Management: A Study of Selective Traditional Home Remedies

Abstract

Background Clinicians classify burns as epidermal, partial thickness (superficial and deep), or full thickness, according to the depth of tissue damage. Although skin is considered the largest organ in the human body, studies investigating burns, their types, and their management has revealed that the background knowledge of burn aid the community possesses remains unsatisfactory. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of various traditional home remedies, taking into account the type of burns and the nature of the remedies used from a cosmetic point of view. Materials and methods This is an original retrospective study conducted at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah from June through December 2022. Using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), eligible patients who met our inclusion criteria were invited to participate in the study after a review of their patient history, an assessment of basic vital signs, and a physical examination. Results Fifty-two participants met our inclusion criteria and successfully completed the study. A total of 80 wounds of varying severity in various locations were evaluated. Participants were divided into three categories according to VSS scores indicating good, intermediate, or poor healing. None of the eight cases treated with water resulted in poor healing. However, tomato paste resulted in poor healing for six cases (60%) but moderate and good healing for two cases (20%). Conclusion The safest and most effective initial management for burns among all the reviewed remedies was the application of cool running water, followed by seeking medical attention for evaluation and proper treatment, whereas tomato paste had a markedly poor effect.