Burns are common
injuries associated with high disability and mortality. In recent years, Meek micrografting technique has been gradually applied for the
wound treatment of severe
burns. However, the efficacy of two-stage Meek micrografting in patients with severe
burns keeps unclear. The data of eligible patients with severe
burns who were admitted to Southwest Hospital of the Third Military Medical University from January 2013 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the Meek micrografting method: one-stage
skin grafting (group A) and two-stage
skin grafting (group B). The baseline data, survival rate of skin graft, length of
hospital stay, treatment costs, laboratory data, and cumulative survival were statistically analyzed. One hundred and twenty-seven patients (91 in group A and 36 in group B) were included in the study. There was no significant difference in the baseline data, the length of
hospital stay, and treatment costs between the two groups. The survival rate of skin graft was higher in group B. Total
protein and
albumin level, platelet count in group B were superior to those in group A, while there was no difference in other laboratory data (
prealbumin, serum
creatinine,
urea nitrogen,
cystatin C, blood cultures,
wound exudate cultures), and cumulative survival between the two groups. Our results demonstrated that staged Meek micrografting could improve the survival rate of skin graft, by reducing the risks of
hypoproteinemia,
hypoalbuminemia, and low platelet counts after adequate
resuscitation.