Efficacy and safety of nano-silver dressings combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor for deep second-degree burns: A meta-analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of nano-silver dressing combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor for deep second-degree burns.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and other databases were searched to identify relevant randomised controlled trials.

Results: Twelve studies that assessed nano-silver dressing combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor were identified. Nano-silver dressing combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor for deep second-degree burns could significantly reduce the duration of wound healing (mean difference -5.68, 95% CI -7.38 - -3.99, P<0.00001), the wound healing rate (risk ratio [RR] 0.34, 95% CI 0.23-0.48, P<0.00001), the rate of scar hyperplasia (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.54-0.84, P=0.0004), the wound bacterial positive rate (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28-0.89, P=0.02), and the adverse reactions rate (RR 0.31, 95% CI 0.16-0.58, P=0.0003).

Conclusion: This comprehensive meta-analysis of the available evidence suggest that the use of nano-silver dressing combined with recombinant human epidermal growth factor results in shorter duration of wound healing, reduced wound bacterial positive rates and adverse reactions rate, and improved wound healing rates.