title: A preliminary report on transplantation of microskin autografts overlaid with sheet allograft in the treatment of large burns.
abstract: The technique of transplantation of autologous microskin grafts (MG) with overlays of split-thickness skin allografts was used in the treatment of nine extensively burned patients. Preparation of MG includes: 1) mincing small pieces of split-thickness skin autografts into skin particles (SPs); 2) dispersing the SPs evenly on a piece of silk cloth; 3) transferring SPs to the dermal surface of an allograft sheet (20/1000 in.); 4) transplanting the allograft with SPs to the excised wound. The mean burn area (total/3 degrees, mean +/- SEM) of this group was 74.9 +/- 16.6/62.1 +/- 18.1% TBSA (range 40 to 94/28 to 90%). The mean age was 27 years (range 19 to 38). Early staged excisions followed immediately by MG applications were performed on 35 large body sites, including extremities, chests plus abdomens and backs. The mean area excised and grafted with MG was 41.7 +/- 11.0% TBSA (range 26 to 62%). The average time for complete healing was about six to seven weeks postgrafting. Eight patients survived; one died of overwhelming pulmonary infection 22 days postburn. Advantages of this technique are: 1) the great potential of MG to provide a large expansion ratio of 8:1 to 15:1, average greater than 10:1 in this series; 2) good maintenance of the healed graft to withstand trauma except in areas of repeated flexion; 3) ease of preparation and application with less cost compared to cultured epidermal sheet grafts; 4) prevention of infection in extremely large burns by providing continuous epidermal coverage following sheet allograft application.
authors.affiliation: First Teaching Hospital, Beijing Medical University, China.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014945:Wound Healing