In spite of recent progress in
burn treatment, the early surgical
therapy of partial thickness scald
burns in children is still controversial. Early tangential excisions is not easily applicable for these patients because of difficulties in determination of the
burn depth and probable physiological derangement after surgery.
Hypertrophic scar formation and
wound contraction after meshed autografts are other limitations. For these reasons,
conservative treatment, not early excision
therapy, has been chosen initially for these
injuries. We used cultured epidermal allografts for extensive, partial thickness scald
burns, during the early post-
burn period without escharectomy. Fifty to 100% of the engrafted superficial dermal
burns were epithelialized within 7 days. In contrast, untreated identical
wounds remained open. Repeated grafting of cultured allografts on unexcised
wound granulations of dermal
burns also enhanced epithelialization. Long term results showed that
hypertrophic scar formation in the mixed superficial and deep dermal
burns was reduced when cultured allografts were used.
Allografting of the cultured epidermis without surgical excision apparently promoted the rapid regeneration of the partial thickness
burns. Procedural complications did not occur. Cultured allografts should be used as an effective and safe
biological dressing for partial thickness scald
burns in children.