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BURN THERAPY

Dr. John Griswold, Director of the Timothy J. Harnar Burn Center (affiliated  with Texas Tech University Medical Center in Lubbock)    INTRODUCTION, healing burn wounds is a painful process. Inflammation, a lack of moisture, and wound sensitivity are often cited as impediments to daily therapy.
 
Current emollients vary in their ability to penetrate the skin and decrease sensitivity and associated pain. Adequate lubrication aids the healing process by providing moisture in areas where sebaceous glands are depleted or currently dysfunctional.
 
Inflammation is the normal response to healing of a burn wound. This inflammation also causes scar tissue to form. Approximately 2.5 million people seek medical attention to burn injuries each year. Virtually all require some type of lubricant application during their recovery.

OBJECTIVE, 4-6 month study to analyze potentially effective involvement of Emu oil in the healing process of burn wounds.
 
METHOD,(from Dr Grisworlds notes) "We now have 10 patients with appropriate wounds, who have completed at least initial evaluations of approximately 9 months,that could be compared in a treatment/control fashion in the same patient. This required wounds that were completely separate on opposite sides of the body yet in areas that would heal similarly in order to appropriately compare the emu oil versus the placebo.

RESULTS, from evaluation of this data are:
"Comments from patients were unanimous as an end result and during application. There was a unanimous difference noted in photographs taken of the wounds as far as reduction in scarring and inflammation done by 4 blinded observers as to which was emu oil and which was a control wound area. The difference was statistically significant."

During the American Burn Association meeting on MArch 18-21, 1998, a poster presentation was made on the completed study.
The presentation was entitled:
Evaluation of Emu Oil in Lubrication and Treatment of Healed Burn Wounds.

Accredited authors were M. Penturf, PhD., RD; S O'Banion PhD.;
and J. Griswold,MD.

The full report appears on the next page.
 
Evaluation of Emu Oil in Lubrication and Treatment of Healed Burn Wounds.

"Emu Oil has been reported to have significant anti-inflammatory effects and has been used in both cosmetics and therapeutic vehicles. This experiment was conducted to evaluate emu oil as a lubricant and an aid in reducing scar formation in healed burn wounds. 10 patients were evaluated in a randomized double blind study for a minimum of 6 months. patients served as their own control by utilizing bilateral wound areas for application of emu oil (New Discoveries, Inc, Florence, MS) and the placebo lubricant on independent sites respectively. Patients were instructed to apply both lotions daily on an as needed basis. During scheduled out patient clinic visits patients' wounds were evaluated by the Vancouver Scar Assessment Scale. Photos were taken on each clinic visit. Treatment ranged from 195 to 385 days before discontinuation.

All of the patients were men, ranging in age from 24-62 years of age. Per scar  assessment, significant differences were noted in pigmentation and pliability  (p<0.02). There were no differences noted in vascularity and height of the  healed wound (p-0.08). Pictures were scored by a 4 person blinded panel on pigmentation, scar maturation and general health of the skin. Emu oil treated areas healed significantly better (p<0.02) the control in photo analysis."

"Statistics were calculated by analysis of variance, means were separated with an F-protected predicted difference test. The results of this pilot study are promising, however additional research is needed to further elucidate the therapeutic qualities of this oil."

"Emu Oil in Lubrication and Treatment of Healed Burn Wounds". S. O'Banion, J. Griswold, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock Texas; American Burn Association, March 18, 1998, Chicago, Illinois.