A dermal substitute was used for
wound management and after early
scar release on a 4-year-old child with mostly full thickness
burns covering 60 per cent of the body surface. The biosynthetic material (
INTEGRA Artificial Skin) consists of an upper
silicone film and a lower layer of porous cross-linked
collagen and chondroitin-6-sulfate as a template for dermal regeneration. Eight sheets each 4 x 10 in. were used to cover the patient's whole trunk after staged tangential necrectomy. In the third and fourth weeks following application the
silicone layer was easily removed and the newly formed dermis covered with widely meshed, thin split-thickness autograft. Seven weeks after admission an early neck
contracture was released and the skin defect also covered with
INTEGRA Artificial Skin. Following the same principle,
transplantation of the thin unmeshed autograft was performed successfully 3 weeks later. The good results regarding handling, final take, apparent initial
scar reduction, and early recovery may favourably effect initial treatment and reconstruction planning after extensive full-thickness
burn injuries.