Background: Advances in critical care allowed survival of large total body surface burn patients in the 1970s, spawning the development of artificial skin for burn victims. Lack of dermis resulted in severe scarring and contractures. The physicochemical properties that are critical to dermal regeneration have subsequently been described, and a dermal regeneration template has been developed.
Methods: The peer-reviewed literature regarding the basic science and clinical use of dermal regeneration template was reviewed, as was our practical experience in using dermal regeneration template.
Results: Dermal regeneration template has been effective in treating large areas of skin loss in burn victims and has been shown to have scar reductive and regenerative properties. Its use has been extended to reconstructive burns, including scar revisions and the treatment of burn scar contractures. It has also been useful in treating small areas of exposed bone, tendon, or joints and a variety of acute and chronic wounds. Meticulous wound bed preparation and close monitoring of the dermal regeneration template is critical to successful use.
Conclusions: Dermal regeneration template provides a novel element to add to the reconstructive tools used today by plastic surgeons. Further development of these technologies may allow for improved regenerative capacity of these devices to allow optimal aesthetic and functional results of dermal reconstruction.