Clinical Outcomes of Phenol Burns Managed with Polyethylene Glycol–Glycerine Dressing: A Retrospective Case Series

Abstract

Background: Chemical injury by phenol is a rare type of chemical burn that can lead to progressive local tissue damage and systemic toxic effects post-dermal absorption. Clinical           studies on polyethylene glycol (PEG) and glycerine for phenol exposures exist due to PEG's solvent properties; however, literature exists in both clinical and limited quantities. The purpose of this case series was to document the clinical presentation and short-term treatment results of those individuals who were treated for phenol burns using a PEG-glycerine dressing and supportive burn care.

Case Series: A retrospective review was conducted on six patients who suffered phenol burns. Four of the patients were children and two were adults. The age ranged from 1 to 43 years, with a median age was 4.71 years. Five patients were male. Total body surface area burned averaged 27.83±10.52 % (Range = 15%-42%). Superficial to deep partial thickness burns occurred in five cases; one case involved superficial burns. The mean length of time prior to being presented for treatment was 24.17±23.91 hours. A PEG-glycerine dressing was applied to each patient's burns in addition to standard supportive burn care. Two patients developed infection. None of the patients underwent an operative procedure for debridement or skin grafting. Systemic toxicity was noted in none of the available medical records. The average length of hospitalization was 12.83±6.11 days. Each of the six patients survived, and all discharged with either healing or stable wounds.

Conclusion: Favorable short term wound progression was seen in patients with phenol burns treated with PEG-glycerine dressing and supportive care in this small retrospective case series. This should however be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of cases within the series; lack of a control/comparator group for comparison purposes; no information regarding the extent or type of irrigation performed prior to hospital arrival (pre-hospital); and a failure to document the precise time intervals between application of the PEG and any systemic monitoring.