From skin allograft coverage to allograft –micrograft sandwich method: A retrospective review of severe burn patients who received conjunctive application of cultured epithelial autografts

Publication date: August 2018 Source:Burns, Volume 44, Issue 5 Author(s): Alvin Wen Choong Chua, Yik Cheong Khoo, Thi Thu Ha Truong, Evan Woo, Bien Keem Tan, Si Jack Chong A 12-year retrospective review of severe burn patients who received cultured epithelial autografts (CEA) at the Singapore General Hospital Burns Centre from January 2005 to December 2016 was carried out. During this period, two different surgical modalities were employed to manage these burn injuries. In the earlier period, following early excision of the burn wounds, exposed surfaces were covered with a combination of split thickness skin autografts (STSG) and allografts. Surfaces covered with skin allografts were subsequently debrided of the allo-epidermis in about 3 weeks later, exposing the allodermis with granulating tissues for grafting of CEA; a technique known as the Cuono’s method. In the later period, allograft–autologous micrograft sandwich technique was used to graft on the early excised burns with subsequent CEA grafting. The former and latter groups represented by STSG/C (n=10) and M/CEA (n=14) respectively, were compared in terms of clinical profiles, outcomes, allograft/CEA usage and total graft cost. No significant differences were found based on mean age and presence of inhalation burns between the two treatment methods However, percentage total body surface area (TBSA) and Revised Baux Score were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the M/CEA group compared to the STSG/C gr...
Source: Burns - Category: Dermatology Source Type: research