title: Isn't it time for a cadaver skin bank in South Africa?
abstract: Improvements in comprehensive burn care, as practiced in dedicated burns units, have reduced mortality and morbidity rates significantly. Strategies deemed most important include the application of fluid resuscitation and nutrition protocols, intensive care and antimicrobial dressings, as well as early excision and grafting. Autografting is limited, however, by availability in very extensive burns, despite the use of expanded (meshed) skin. Alternatives have therefore been required, and deceased donor allograft is considered the gold standard. Fresh allograft use is limited by supply, and legislative and cultural restrictions have significantly influenced availability, despite evidence of its efficacy. This necessitates the establishment of a deceased donor skin bank in South Africa, with a mandate to procure and store allograft for distribution to burns units when required.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospitals and the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.affiliation: Departments of General Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of Kwazulu Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Allorto
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospitals and the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospitals and the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, Groote Schuur and Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospitals and the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.affiliation: Division of Paediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rode
keywords: allograft; burn care in developing countries; deceased donor/cadaver skin; major burn injuries; skin banking