Freeze-dried radiation sterilized human amniotic membrane in the treatment of burn wound - Algerian experience)

This study was carried out in order to evaluate the usefulness of human amniotic membrane as a biological dressing and its efficacy in the management of bum wound. Fresh human amniotic membranes were procured from donors exempted of any infection. We reported the practical methods of collection, preparation and preservation by freeze-drying. Radiation sterilisation was applied to freeze-dried human arymiotic membrane, doubly packed in polyethylene bags. Sterility control was carried out in two steps: i) Bacteriological test done on three representative samples of each batch. ii) Viability control of a radioresistant micro-organism: B. pimulus E601. The methodology of clinical application was reported. Eighty patients were treated as outpatients in the Bums Centre 'Sidi Bennour', Algiers. Pain, infection, and the progress of healing were monitored. Covering the wound with the amniotic membrane showed some good results in ten-ns of increased rate of healing, pain relief and absence of infection. It is concluded that freeze-dried radiation sterilized human amniotic membrane should be more widely used in the treatment of bum wound in respect to its good therapeutic effect