Autologous Skin Cell Suspension in Burn Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes.

Abstract

Background: ReCell, an autologous cell harvesting technology also known as Autologous Skin Cell Suspension (ASCS), has shown promise in enhancing skin regeneration for burn patients. Despite its growing use in clinical practice, the current literature displays considerable variability in study design and quality, leading to ongoing uncertainty about its true clinical effectiveness. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively evaluate the clinical efficacy of ASCS in the treatment of burns.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, utilizing searches across PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The review protocol was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024606554). The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the ROBINS-I tool were applied to assess bias in randomized controlled trials and observational studies, respectively. The overall methodological quality of included studies was appraised using the GRADE framework.

Results: Fourteen studies (n = 3362) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The pooled mean patient age was 37.6 years, with a male predominance (65.9%). The average %TBSA affected was 14.6% (95% CI: 8.8-20.4), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 95.1%). Meta-analysis demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in complication rates with ASCS combined with split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) compared to STSG alone (RR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.41-1.00, p = 0.048). However, rates of wound infection and graft failure did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions: ASCS demonstrates potential in reducing complications in burn care. Nevertheless, due to heterogeneous study designs, further high-quality, large-scale randomized trials are warranted to validate its long-term efficacy and broader clinical utility.