Wound contraction following transplantation of microskin autografts with overlaid skin allograft in experimental animals.
The wound contraction associated with a new grafting technique, transplantation of microskin autografts with overlaid skin allograft, was evaluated in a rat model. Male inbred Lewis rats were used as microskin autograft recipients while Buffalo rats were used as allogeneic skin graft donors providing a sheet allograft for overlay. This technique was compared with the use of sheet isografts. Wound contraction was observed for 4 months. The results showed that the application of autologous microskin grafting with allograft overlay was associated with more scar contraction than was the use of a sheet isograft. Maximum contraction to 43 per cent of the original size appeared at 7 weeks postgrafting in the microskin grafting group, while in the sheet isografting group the greatest contraction occurred at 4 weeks postgrafting when it retained 72 per cent of the original size.
Fang
C H
CH
Shriners Burns Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Alexander
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D003286:Contracture / Q000473:pathology*; D009336:Necrosis; D051381:Rats; D011915:Rats, Inbred BUF; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014945:Wound Healing