ArticleJournal of plastic and reconstructive surgery2026
The Efficacy of Bromelain-based Enzymatic Debridement in Deep Burn Injury Management: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Article in Journal of plastic and reconstructive surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objectives: Bromelain-based enzymatic debridement has gained significant attention for its potential advantages in treating burn wounds. However, no previous meta-analyses have been conducted to provide concise evidence of bromelain's efficacy. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on the comparison of bromelain use versus standard care in patients undergoing burn debridement. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies. Data synthesis was performed using random-effects models, with findings presented as mean differences (MDs) and weighted odds ratios, accompanied by their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results: The review analyzed 10 studies, including three randomized controlled trials, two clinical trials, and four observational studies, involving 596 burn patients with an average age of 38 years and a mean total body surface area (TBSA) of 16%. Of the participants, 49% received a topical bromelain mixture, while 51% received standard care. Bromelain was linked to faster debridement (MD -3.92; p < 0.00001) and a higher rate of spontaneous healing (MD 71.00; p < 0.00001). Surgical excision and autograft procedures were less common in the bromelain group, with odds ratios of 0.08 (p < 0.0002) and 0.10 (p = 0.0001). No significant differences were observed in wound closure time, infection rates, blood transfusion needs, Modified Vancouver Scar Scale scores, or hospital stays. Conclusions: The evidence from this study suggests that the administration of bromelain-based enzymatic debridement significantly reduces the time required to complete debridement, increases the chances of spontaneous healing of burn wounds, and decreases the need for further surgical excisions and autograft procedures.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.