title: Clinical applications of skin substitutes.
abstract: A unique understanding of the components of mammalian skin has led to the development of numerous skin substitutes. These skin substitutes attempt to compensate for functional and physiologic deficits present in damaged tissue. Skin substitutes, when appropriately applied in optimized settings, offer a promising solution to difficult wound management. The body of literature on skin substitutes increases as the understanding of tissue engineering and molecular biology expands. Given the high cost of these products, future randomized large prospective studies are needed to guide the clinical applications of skin substitutes.
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: TNYAME@PARTNERS.ORG.
authors.forename: Theodore T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nyame
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: H Abraham
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Orgill
mesh_terms: D064591:Allografts / Q000502:physiology; D002056:Burns / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D064593:Heterografts / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Allografts; Chronic wounds; Dermal templates; Foot ulcers; Skin substitutes