title: The treatment of bone exposure in burns by using artificial dermis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The treatment of bone-exposed wounds with artificial dermis is not widely accepted in burn patients because of uncertain clinical results. This article aimed to review our clinical experience with this technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  We implanted artificial dermis in 11 bone-exposed burns. Implantation was directly performed on bones with periosteum, whereas bones without periosteum were trephinated or burred before implantation. All wounds were closed by secondary skin grafting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean patient age was 49 years. Lower extremity is the most common site of bone exposure. The mean bone exposed area was 55.6 cm, whereas the mean Integra-implanted area was 86.7 cm. The overall implant take rate was 91%, and the skin grafting success rate was 80%. No secondary breakdown was noted after a 2-year follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that artificial dermis can be an alternative treatment tool for burns with exposed bones, especially in patients with limited donor sites.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Eng-Kean
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Yeong
authors.forename: Shih-Heng
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yueh-Bih
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D020405:Dermis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D012886:Skull; D013165:Splints; D013977:Tibia; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D055815:Young Adult