[Indication for and results of the application of glycerol-preserved homologous split-thickness skin following burns].

Abstract

Since 1983 the treatment of second-degree burns with glycerol-conserved allogenic split-thickness skin grafts is published. In case of actual problems with AIDS the gathering of split-thickness skin was modified and a new method for gaining split-thickness skin of organ-donors created to prevent the virus transfer. Because of these high security in contagiousness the skin graft transplantation with allogenic glycerol-conserved donor-skin in case of second-degree-burns was standardized in the Berlin Burn Center. To prevent the formation of granulation tissue after second-degree burns a tangential debridement of necrotic corium will be done in 1/10 mm thick slices on the third posttraumatic day and the defects covered with 1:1.5 mesh grafts extended. The results of 267 patients in 1988 and 1989, who were treated in accordance to this regimen, will be demonstrated. In 11% of cases the alloplastic skin graft in adults was not rejected 6 month after transplantation and in 2% of cases the depth of burn was not estimated properly and hypertrophic scars had to be excised and covered with autogenous split-thickness skin. General second-degree-burn healed after debridement and covering with allogeneic split-thickness skin without formation of hypertrophic scars.