title: Evaluation and comparison of composite and split-thickness skin grafts using cutometer mpa 580.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In our preliminary experiments we found that composite skin grafts consisting of allogeneic acellular dermis and thin epidermal autologous grafts applied to the excised burn wound in one stage led to better results in terms of viscoelastic properties than autologous split-thickness skin grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  In ten burn patients we applied composite skin grafts consisting of allogeneic acellular dermis and thin epidermal autologous grafts and followed the quality of the reconstructed skin cover with a special device, Cutometer MPA 580, over a period of four years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cutometric curves demonstrated better viscoelastic properties in composite skin grafts than in conventional split-thickness skin grafts after four years. We found Cutometer MPA 580 to be an advantageous device for the objectification of improved quality of reconstructed skin cover.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among the various methods the cutometer showed the advantage of being a non-invasive, precise, and objective method of measuring skin's viscoelastic properties. The Vancouver Scar Score is a subjective evaluation of skin viscoelasticity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our prospective clinical study clearly demonstrated that cutometric measurement produced objective results in contrast to clinical evaluation, the Vancouver Scar Score, and other non-quantitative methods. Our hypothesis that composite skin grafts consisting of allogeneic acellular dermis and thin epidermal autologous grafts applied onto the excised burn wound in one stage led to better results in terms of viscoelastic properties than autologous split-thickness skin grafts was fully confirmed.
authors: Department of Burns and Reconstructive Surgery, Brno University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Sín
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Stupka
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Brychta