To explore the effect of the hydrosurgery system in the debridement of patients with extensive and deep second-degree burns.

Forty-one patients with extensive and deep second-degree burns admitted to the Department of Burns, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from October 2019 to October 2022 were selected for a retrospective cohort study, and were divided into a hydrosurgery system debridement group (20 cases) and a traditional debridement group (21 cases) according to whether or not hydrosurgery system was used, combined with autologous Meek micrograft technique to heal the wounds. Post-operative care included routine anti-infection and regular dressing changes. The survival rate of the implant at 7 days after surgery and the healing time of the surgical area were observed in both groups, and the postoperative procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) reduction rates were recorded and calculated. Data were analysed using t-test, chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test.

The implant survival rate of the hydrosurgery system debridement group was 95.9%(87.7%, 96.7%), which was significantly higher than that of the traditional debridement group [83.3%(80.0%, 87.7%)], and the difference was statistically significant (Z=-3.748, P<0.001). The post-operative PCT reduction rate of the hydrosurgery system debridement group was (59.5±21.5)%, which was significantly higher than that of the traditional debridement group [(26.1±32.7)%], and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.839, P<0.001). The post-operative CRP reduction rate of the hydrosurgery system debridement group was 55.8%(32.3%, 66.8%), which was significantly higher than that of the traditional debridement group [32.3%(15.4%, 37.3%)], with a statistically significant difference (Z=-3.170, P=0.002). The healing time of the surgical area in the hydrosurgery system debridement group was (37.1±17.3) days, which was significantly shorter than that of the traditional debridement group (48.9±4.2) days, with a statistically significant difference (t=-2.058, P=0.046).

Compared with traditional debridement, hydrosurgery system debridement combined with Meek micrograft technique can more precisely remove necrotic tissue, reduce systemic inflammation, create a favourable environment for skin grafting, improve skin grafting survival rate, accelerate wound healing for patients with extensive and deep second-degree burns.