Sensory endings in skin grafts and scars after extensive burns.
Fifteen patients who underwent a split thickness skin graft operation for full thickness burns and six patients with postburn scars were biopsied after a standard aesthesiological examination completed with Weber and Dellon tests. A semiquantitative evaluation was performed on immunohistochemically stained sections to determine the presence or absence of PGP 9.5 immunoreactive intraepithelial fibres, complex sensory receptors, nerve fibres in the dermal papillae, vessel-innervating fibres, gland-innervating fibres, and nerve trunks in the deep dermis. The reinnervation pattern was similar in grafts and scars. With regard to sensory receptors, free nerve endings and Merkel-neurite complexes were observed. Statistical analysis suggested a significant correlation between sensibility and the amount of regenerated nerve structures (particularly in the epidermis and dermal papillae).
Stella
M
M
Plastic Surgery and Burn Unit, Traumatologic Centre, Torino, Italy.
Calcagni
M
M
Teich-Alasia
S
S
Ramieri
G
G
Cellino
G
G
Panzica
G
G
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000473:pathology*