[Histopathology and ultrastructural characteristics of acellular allogenic dermal matrix engrafted with thin split-thickness skin autograft: mid- and long-term results].
OBJECTIVE
To observe mid- and long-term changes in the histopathology and electron microscopic characteristics of the acellular dermal matrix engrafted with thin split-thickness skin autograft.


METHODS
Twenty-three biopsy samples were collected from 17 patients undergoing extremity scar resection, who received subsequent grafting using allogenic dermal matrix dressed with thin split-thickness skin autografts. Six months to 2 years after the grafting, the grafts were sampled for histopathological and electron microscopic observations of the layer of the epidermis, thickness of the basal membrane, structural components of the dermis, and infiltration of fibroblasts and revascularization. The data were compared with those of the normal skin samples from the patients.


RESULTS
Only the number of epidermal layers showed statistically significant difference between the skin grafts and the normal skin (16.33-/+5.89 vs 26.57-/+3.46, P=0.007). The thickness of the basal membrane of the skin grafts was similar to that of normal skin, and no significant difference was found in the number of fibroblasts and newly generated capillaries between them.


CONCLUSIONS
The mid- and long-term histopathology and ultrastructures of the composite skin graft in the extremities are similar to those of normal skin, suggesting satisfactory effect of the skin grafts.
Zhang
Yi
Y
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Guo
Dong
D
Zeng
Rui-Xi
RX
Long
Bi
B
Liu
Xiang-Xia
XX
Cheng
Gang
G
D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery; D020405:Dermis / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous