Basic fibroblast growth factor accelerates and improves second-degree burn wound healing

Second-degree burns are sometimes a concern for shortening patient suffering time as well as the therapeutic choice. Thus, adult second-degree burn patients (average 57.8 +/- 13.9 years old), mainly with deep dermal burns, were included. Patients receiving topical basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or no bFGF were compared for clinical scar extent, passive scar hardness and elasticity using a Cutometer, direct scar hardness using a durometer, and moisture analysis of the stratum corneum at 1 year after complete wound healing. There was significantly faster wound healing with bFGF, as early as 2.2 +/- 0.9 days from the burn injury, compared with non-bFGF use (12.0 +/- 2.2 vs. 15.0 +/- 2.7 days, p < 0.01). Clinical evaluation of Vancouver scale scores showed significant differences between bFGF-treated and non-bFGF-treated scars (p < 0.01). Both maximal scar extension and the ratio of scar retraction to maximal scar extension, elasticity, by Cutometer were significantly greater in bFGF-treated scars than non-bFGF-treated scars (0.23 +/- 0.10 vs. 0.14 +/- 0.06 mm, 0.59 +/- 0.20 vs. 0.49 +/- 0.15 mm: scar extension, scar elasticity, bFGF vs. non-bFGF, p < 0.01). The durometer reading was significantly lower in bFGF-treated scars than in non-bFGF-treated scars (16.2 +/- 3.8 vs. 29.3 +/- 5.1, p < 0.01). Transepidermal water loss, water content, and corneal thickness were significantly less in bFGF-treated than in non-bFGF-treated scars (p < 0.01).