Currently available skin substitutes

Cas Lek Cesk. 2014;153(1):7-12.

Abstract

The current trend of burn wound care has shifted to more holistic approach of improvement in the long-term form and function of the healed burn wounds and quality of life. Autologous split or full-thickness skin graft are the best definitive burn wound coverage, but it is constrained by the limited available sources, especially in major burns. Donor site morbidities in term of additional wounds and scarring are also of concern of the autograft application. This has demanded the emergence of various skin substitutes in the management of acute burn injury as well as post burn reconstructions. This paper reviews currently available skin substitutes, produced in not for-profit skin banks as well as commercially available. They are divided according to type of material included, as biological, biosynthetic and synthetic and named respectively.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Burns / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Skin
  • Skin Transplantation*
  • Skin, Artificial*
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Wound Healing*