Management of full-thickness burns of the scalp and skull

Full-thickness burn injury of the scalp, with or without necrosis of underlying bone, is a complex therapeutic problem. Inability to diagnose depth of injury, controversy regarding wound closure, and a high incidence of acute morbidity are all associated with it. We reviewed the records of 17 patients who had suffered such injury. Wound closure was accomplished by split-thickness autograft alone in three patients, by bone dermabrasion and split-thickness autograft in six, by bone excision and split-thickness autograft in five, and by immediate local rotation flap in three. Systemic and/or local septic complications developed in 50% of all patients who underwent bony debridement. When feasible, early excision followed by immediate flap coverage is the procedure of choice. It avoids the multiple operative procedures required by the more conservative approach to wound closure, thereby shortening the period of primary hospitalization and virtually eliminating the risk of sepsis.     

去细胞异体真皮、去细胞猪真皮和自体刃厚皮移植在临床中的应用

目的观察去细胞异体真皮或去细胞猪真皮加自体刃厚皮移植在深度烧伤和整形外科中的应用效果。方法采用去细胞异体真皮或我们研制的去细胞猪真皮加自体刃厚皮移植的方法,修复各种创面119例次,比较不同创面的植皮成活率,观察应用不同部位的皮肤覆盖去细胞异体真皮或去细胞猪真皮与植皮成活的关系,并对部分病例进行了组织学观察和随访。结果削痂、切痂和切瘢创面植皮成活率分别为(93．4％±3．1)％、(92．1±4．6)％和(94．5±3．8)％,三者间差异无显著意义;去细胞异体真皮加自体刃厚皮移植与去细胞猪真皮加自体刃厚皮移植,二者植皮成活率差异无显著意义。躯干、四肢自体刃厚皮覆盖的去细胞异体真皮或去细胞猪真皮,植皮成活率分别为(93．1±4．8)％、(89．0±6．2)％,而应用刃厚头皮或自体微粒皮加异体皮覆盖的去细胞异体真皮或去细胞猪真皮,植皮成活率明显下降(P<0．05或0．01)。组织学观察,术后19个月时表皮、真皮形态正常,胶原纤维排列规则,未见胶原纤维明显增生和瘢痕化,无皮肤附件。成活的复合移植皮肤,与邻近正常肤色近似,色素沉着轻,无明显皱缩,触之软,活动度好。结论去细胞异体真皮或去细胞猪真皮加自体刃厚皮移植修复深度烧伤创面或切瘢后创面不失为一种较理想的材料。     

Methods of burn treatment. Part II: Technical aspects]

The best treatment for burns and scalds depends on the depth of the skin necrosis. Epidermal and superficial dermal burn injuries (IIa) can heal spontaneously with conservative treatment without scar development, but deep dermal or full-thickness burns constitute an absolute indication for surgery. Full-thickness or split-thickness skin grafts are used for wound closure. In the case of extensive burn injuries allografts are used for temporary wound closure. In certain licensed laboratories autologous keratinocytes can be cultured for transplantation. In circumferential burn injuries affecting the extremities or the trunk the rigid eschar has to be incised to relieve the pressure behind it. Following a debridement conservative treatment of superficial dermal burns involving wound coverage with biosynthetic dressings or nanocristalline silver gauze dressings or use of special disinfecting ointments can be implemented.     

Lando双层人工真皮在手部皮肤缺损中的应用

目的探讨人工真皮在手部皮肤缺损中的临床应用效果。方法2018年6月-2019年6月,共收治20例手部皮肤缺损伴骨或肌腱外露的患者,所有患者均于一期彻底清创后行VSD负压吸引,待创面无明显感染后采用人工真皮覆盖创面,再次行VSD负压吸引,3周后行自体游离植皮手术,观察人工真皮及自体游离植皮成活情况。结果20例人工真皮及自体游离植皮皮片全部成活,术后随访平均5.6(3~12)个月,骨或肌腱外露均得到良好修复,创面愈合后外形良好,皮肤弹性好,无臃肿及明显瘢痕增生,未见明显色素沉着,外观平整。结论手部创面采用人工真皮修复后成活良好,二期中厚皮片植皮可确保手部皮肤外形美观,弹性好,效果满意。     

Behandlungskonzepte bei Verbrennungen

The best treatment for burns and scalds depends on the depth of the skin necrosis. Epidermal and superficial dermal burn injuries (IIa) can heal spontaneously with conservative treatment without scar development, but deep dermal or full-thickness burns constitute an absolute indication for surgery. Full-thickness or split-thickness skin grafts are used for wound closure. In the case of extensive burn injuries allografts are used for temporary wound closure. In certain licensed laboratories autologous keratinocytes can be cultured for transplantation. In circumferential burn injuries affecting the extremities or the trunk the rigid eschar has to be incised to relieve the pressure behind it. Following a debridement conservative treatment of superficial dermal burns involving wound coverage with biosynthetic dressings or nanocristalline silver gauze dressings or use of special disinfecting ointments can be implemented.     

One-stage treatment of gunshot wounds

Delayed primary closure has been advocated for the treatment of gunshot wounds owing to the fact that they are highly contaminated. The authors believe that with meticulous debridement, contaminants are removed; thus, early wound coverage with meshed split-thickness skin graft allows for drainage along with faster healing of all tissues. Split-thickness skin excision was found to be a useful procedure in the immediate management of gunshot injuries.     

采用人工真皮修复大面积烧伤早期手部创面的疗效观察

目的:观察早期应用人工真皮修复大面积烧伤患者手部创面的效果.方法:选取2009年1月-2010年9月就诊于北京市右安门医院的大面积烧伤患者38例,采用随机分组方法分为两组.人工真皮组19例在早期修复手部创面手术中用人工真皮覆盖创面,2周后用自体刃厚皮片覆盖.对照组19例创面早期切痂、行自体微粒+异体皮移植,后期肉芽组织...     

脱细胞异体真皮与自体表皮复合移植修复创面

目的　研究应用脱细胞异体真皮与自体表皮复合移植修复创面的临床效果。　方法　 2 0 0 0年 7月～2 0 0 2年 8月 ,应用脱细胞异体真皮与自体表皮构成的复合皮对 34例头颈、躯干及四肢等部位的创面进行修复 ,创面最小5 cm× 10 cm,最大 12 cm× 19cm,其中陈旧性肉芽创面 2例 ,巨大色素痣切除创面 4例 ,皮肤广泛毛细血管瘤切除后创面 6例 ,瘢痕切除后创面 2 2例。观察移植皮片的成活率及愈后皮片色泽、功能情况。　结果　临床应用 34例 ,术后移植复合皮全部成活 ,30例获 3个月～ 2年随访 ,移植皮片颜色与周围正常肤色接近 ,皮片柔软 ,瘢痕增生不明显 ,功能改善显著。　结论　脱细胞异体真皮与自体表皮复合移植较单纯自体表皮移植后 ,皮片质量及关节部位功能上均有明显改善 ,尤其适合于四肢创面修复。     

Composite skin graft: frozen dermal allografts support the engraftment and expansion of autologous epidermis

Rapid closure of burn wounds significantly reduces the complications associated with thermal injury. Successful wound coverage, however, is often limited by the lack of suitable autografts. To circumvent this limitation a composite graft was developed which combines the utility and availability of allogeneic skin with the permanence of an autograft. Composite grafts were first employed in a rat wound model and subsequently to treat six patients with thermal injuries. In experiments with rats, full-thickness excised (1") wounds were prepared on thoracic walls, covered with previously frozen allograft skin, dressed, and secured. Five days later, the dead epidermis was removed and trypsin-disaggregated syngeneic epidermal cells applied to the exposed dermal surface. Successful engraftment with complete epidermal coverage could be observed within 7 to 10 days. In eight patients, split-thickness skin bank allografts were placed on full-thickness burn wounds. Four days later the dead epidermis was removed and vacuum blister-prepared sheets of autologous epidermis grafted to the exposed dermal surface. In all eight patients successful engraftment ensued. Increased pigmentation at the site of each original epidermal graft confirmed the stability of underlying allograft dermis. Epidermal expansion ranged from 1:20 to 1:100. All patients were followed from 10 to 12 months with no demonstrated graft loss or significant wound contracture. Composite skin grafts which combine allogeneic dermis and an expanded autologous epidermis can effect rapid wound closure and will remain stable without evidence of rejection or graft breakdown for at least 12 months.     

应用人工真皮和自体皮移植修复难愈性创面

目的 了解人工真皮联合自体皮移植修复难愈性创面的可行性并评价其治疗效果.方法 选择20例住院患者共25处持续8周以上的难愈性创面,分为慢性溃疡组9例11处创面,为创伤、烧伤后瘢痕溃疡创面;骨外露组11例14处创面,骨外露面积为0.8～77.0 cm~2(最大面积为22.0 cm×3.5 cm).手术方法 为I期扩创移植人工真皮,2～6周后局部血管化良好,外露肌腱和骨质被类真皮组织覆盖,Ⅱ期移植自体薄断层皮片. 结果 慢性溃疡组9例患者的11处创面中,9处愈合优良,2处经换药后愈合.骨外露组11例患者的14处创面中,12处愈合优,外露骨质得到有效覆盖;2处创面因感染人工真皮未成活,随后行皮瓣修复手术.随访5-24个月,未见创面复发,外观满意,无明显增生性瘢痕,供皮区亦无明显瘢痕形成. 结论 人工真皮联合自体皮移植修复难愈性创面,方法 简便、创面愈合质量高、供皮区损失轻微,为难愈性创面的修复提供了新的选择.     

异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质与头皮薄皮片复合移植

目的探索异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质与头皮薄皮片复合移植在整形修复方面应用的可行性.方法将制备好的异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质移植于烧伤切痂、肉芽及瘢痕切除的创面上,4～5 d后再移植自体头皮薄皮片,并观察其成活率,以及创面修复后的质量.结果 15例25个创面,脱细胞真皮基质的成活率(96.40±2.60)%,头皮薄皮片的成活率(97.44±3.50)%,创面愈合后皮肤的颜色与正常皮肤近似,外观平整,弹性良好,无明显的瘢痕增生,相当或接近于自体大张中厚皮片移植的修复效果.结论异种(猪)脱细胞真皮基质与自体头皮薄皮片复合移植,成活率高,整复效果较为满意,头皮供区可反复供皮而不留瘢痕及影响头发生长,是修复深度烧伤及瘢痕切除后创面的可行手术方法.     

One-step grafting procedure using artificial dermis and split-thickness skin in burn patients

The study aimed to achieve a one-step grafting procedure using artificial dermis and split-thickness skin. We performed simultaneous grafting of artificial dermis and skin in two severely burned patients. Artificial dermis was treated with fresh autogenous platelet-derived wound-healing factors (PDWHF), cryopreserved allogeneic cultured endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Dermal microvascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts were obtained from a single human donor’s skin. The cultured cells were cryopreserved until use in grafting. The PDWHF was prepared from autogenous blood from each patient prior to the surgery. In two patients, the artificial dermis treated with this method was grafted to a full-thickness burn wound. Immediately after artificial dermis grafting, meshed split-thickness skin was grafted. In each case, the skin graft took well, and the skin texture was acceptable. Histological examination revealed that bovine collagen tissue remained in the dermis after surgery, indicating the success of the simultaneous grafting of the artificial dermis and the skin. The present study indicates that one-step grafting of artificial dermis and split-skin is possible when the artificial dermis is treated with PDWHF and cultured endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.     

Management of acute calvarial burns in children

BACKGROUND: Although rare, head burns involving the calvarium are a serious complication of burns and electrical injury, and present therapeutic challenges to the surgical burn care team. We evaluated our experiences and compared available strategies to address this challenge. METHODS: Records of all burned children between January 1986 and December 2000 were reviewed. Twenty-seven children (15 boys and 12 girls) with scalp burns extending at least into the outer table of bone were identified and compared with a matched group of 30 patients admitted for acute thermal burns without skull injury. RESULTS: Flame burn was the injury mechanism in 78% of these patients and electrical injury was the injury mechanism in 22%. The incidence of calvarial burns in our patient population was 1.2% for thermal burns and 5.6% for electrical injuries during the study period. The age distribution was biphasic, with maximums in infancy for thermal burns and in puberty for electrical injuries. Eight of 27 patients (29.6%) developed full-thickness calvarial bone defects. In 23 patients, calvarial burn wound coverage was achieved with bone debridement and immediate or delayed placement of autograft skin. In four patients (all with electrical injury), local scalp flaps were required for closure. The length of hospital stay and overall number of acute operative procedures significantly increased for patients with calvarial burns. CONCLUSION: Acute calvarial burns are safely managed by bone debridement in combination with staged autografting or early flap coverage. Although flap coverage reduces the number of required procedures, the extensive wound size in thermal burns restricts acute flap procedures primarily to electrical injuries. Compared with patients without skull injury, length of hospital stay and the number of acute operative procedures are tremendously increased in patients with calvarial burns.     

The clinical application effects of artificial dermis scaffold and autologous split-thickness skin composite grafts combined with vacuum-assisted closure in refractory wounds

To investigate the clinical application effects of artificial dermis scaffold and autologous split-thickness skin composite grafts combined with vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C) in refractory wounds. A retrospective analysis was performed on 70 patients with refractory wounds admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June 2019 to December 2021 (44 males and 25 females, with an average age of 49.3 ± 21.4 years). There were 26 patients with chronic ulcers; 3 patients with cancerous wounds; 16 patients with hot crush injuries; and 25 patients with traumatic wounds, including 21 cases of hands, 33 cases of feet, 6 cases of upper limbs, and 10 cases of lower limbs. The patients were divided into an artificial dermis scaffold group (35 patients, including 21 males and 14 females, aged 49.5 ± 21.3 years) and a skin graft group (35 patients, including 23 males and 11 females, aged 49.1 ± 21.5 years). In the artificial dermis scaffold group, after debridement, the artificial dermis scaffold was transplanted for approximately 2 weeks until the wound surface was well vascularized, after which the autologous split-thick skin graft was transplanted. Negative pressure wound therapy was performed throughout the treatment. In the skin grafting group, after debridement, the autologous split-thickness skin graft (aSTSG) was transplanted, and negative pressure wound therapy was performed continuously. The wound healing rate; skin graft survival rate; postoperative wound infection; exudative fluid volume; subcutaneous haematoma; hospitalisation time; hospitalisation cost; Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) score, used to evaluate the scar of the recipient area at 6 months after the operation; and the sensory disorder grading method, used to evaluate the sensory recovery of the recipient area, were compared between the two groups. All 70 refractory wounds healed. In the artificial dermis scaffold group, the skin graft survival rate was 90% (86%–95%), the hospitalisation time was 38 (29–45) days, the hospitalisation cost was 148 102 (118242–192327) yuan, and the VSS score was 1.9 ± 1.3. There were significant differences in skin graft survival rate (70% [60%–80%]), length of hospital stay (21 [14–28] days), hospitalisation cost (76 201 [39228–135 919] yuan) and VSS score [6.1 ± 3.6] between the skin graft group and the artificial dermis scaffold group (P < .05). The skin graft survival rate, scar hyperplasia and sensory recovery of the recipient area in the artificial dermis scaffold group were better than those in the skin graft group, but the hospitalisation time was relatively longer, and the hospitalisation cost was relatively higher. Wound healing rate, postoperative wound infection, exudate volume, and subcutaneous haematoma of patients in the two groups were similar, and there were no significant differences (P > .05). The artificial dermis scaffold and composite transplantation of autologous aSTSG with V.A.C can promote painless wound healing and improve the skin survival rate, skin colour and lustre, and flexible smooth texture and is conducive to less scar hyperplasia and postoperative functional exercise and recovery. This method provides a reasonable and effective scheme for the treatment of clinical refractory wounds.     

Use of the artificial dermis for free radial forearm flap donor site

The radial forearm free flap has been popular in many area of reconstructive surgery. Despite the many attributes of this flap in surgical reconstruction, one of the clear disadvantages has been the morbidity of the donor site. To solve problems associated with closure of the radial forearm flap donor site, the artificial dermis was used for better outcome in the donor site. From July of 2001 to October 2003, 13 patients (12 male, 1 female) ranging in age from 27 to 67 years underwent free radial forearm transfers. Flap size measured 49 to 144 cm2. Donor-site defects secondary to the flap elevation was closed first with the artificial dermis (Terudermis), marketed by Terumo Inc, Japan, and secondary split-thickness skin graft to the artificial dermis was performed in 15 days (range, 13 to 17 days) on average. There was no flap failure in all cases. Partial loss of the artificial dermis graft was noticed in 2 cases, but it was negligible. Secondary skin graft take was noticed in about 7 days, and there was no remarkable skin graft loss. The artificial dermis was used successfully in 13 patients with the donor defects of free radial forearm flap. Despite the disadvantage to need the secondary split-thickness skin graft, use of the artificial dermis gave us not only soft-tissue augmentation and graft-skin quality similar to full-thickness skin graft but also fast graft healing and diminished morbidity of the skin-graft donor site.     

人工真皮修复手足部肌腱和骨外露创面

目的观察应用人工真皮联合自体皮片移植修复手足部肌腱和骨外露创面的临床疗效。方法对14例手足部皮肤缺损伴肌腱、骨外露患者采用清创人工真皮覆盖治疗,3周后采用自体中厚皮片移植修复创面。结果除1例边缘坏死经局部换药愈合外,13例植皮全部成活。患者均获得随访,时间6~24个月。创面愈合外观满意,局部无明显疼痛和增生性瘢痕,移植皮肤柔软,有弹性,色素沉着不明显。结论人工真皮联合二期植皮是修复手足部肌腱和骨外露创面的一种简单、有效的方法。     

皮能快愈敷料在瘢痕整形治疗中的应用

目的:探讨在瘢痕整形中特别是大面积烧伤后形成瘢痕影响功能需行植皮手术整形的新方法。方法:对于深度烧伤后形成瘢痕需行切除植皮改善美观及功能的患者,Ⅰ期行瘢痕切除后人工真皮(皮能快愈敷料即皮耐克)移植术。2～3周后Ⅱ期手术:去除皮耐克硅胶膜行自身刃厚皮片移植。结果:皮片移植均存活,创面外观满意,供皮区轻度色素沉着,无瘢痕增生。结论:皮耐克与自体刃厚皮复合移植在瘢痕整形治疗中具有较好的临床应用价值,值得借鉴推广。     

The dermis graft: another autologous option for acute burn wound coverage

BackgroundSplit-thickness skin autografts are the gold-standard in providing permanent acute wound closure in major burns. Split-thickness dermal grafts harvested from the same donor site may provide an additional autologous option for permanent acute coverage and increase the number of potential autologous donor sites.Materials and methodsWe performed 16 dermis grafts (DG) harvested from the skin of the back in 9 consecutive burn patients. A control donor site consisted of an area of adjacent back skin from which a standard split-thickness skin graft was harvested. The mean age was 63 years (range 23–79 years). The mean initial burn size was 24% TBSA (range 2–40% TBSA). The size of the 16 DG recipient wound beds ranged from 20 to 180 cm², with mean and median sizes of 62 and 45 cm², respectively.ResultsDermis graft take was complete in 15/16 cases. All grafts recorded >90% epithelialisation by 4 weeks. There was no significant difference in dermis graft and control donor site healing times (p value 0.05).ConclusionDermis grafts can provide an additional autologous option for permanent coverage in acute major burn wounds without increasing donor site size or morbidity.     

Large scalp and skull defect in aplasia cutis congenita.

Aplasia cutis congenita (ACC) is a rare disease, which may involve any site on the body but usually the vertex with scalp and even skull involvement. Superficial lesions may heal spontaneously and seldom result in morbidity or mortality. However, in patients with large scalp and skull defects, there are risks of infection and bleeding. Both surgical and conservative treatment have been proposed. We report a case of successful treatment of ACC by early debridement and wound closure with split-thickness skin graft (STSG) in the neonatal stage followed by replacement of the STSG with a hairy scalp flap by means of tissue expansion at the age of 3 years. The original skull defect, 7 x 10 cm in size, decreased to 1.2 x 1.2 cm after a 4.5-year follow-up. No complications, such as haemorrhage or meningitis, were encountered. The final result was satisfactory.     

Immediate care of crush injuries and compartment syndromes with the split-thickness skin excision

Prospective evaluation of the one-stage procedure in 32 patients who suffered from 37 severe friction-avulsion injuries was carried out. Most injuries (81%) were in the lower extremity. Split-thickness skin excision was used for immediate diagnosis of flap vascularity and wound coverage. Split-thickness skin was harvested from the avulsed flap surfaces after they were temporarily sutured back to their original bed. Dermal capillary bleeding served as an indicator for tissue viability, thus delineating a clear line for debridement. All compartments were decompressed, and debridement of all devascularized tissues was performed. Most fractures were fixed with interfragmentary screws and external fixators. Viable parts of the avulsed flaps were sutured back to their original bed and exposed bones were covered with transposed muscles. Skin defects were grafted with the split-thickness skin that was harvested in the first stage and was meshed 1:3 to allow drainage. Most patients (26 out of 32) had only one surgical procedure for their extensive injuries. The split-thickness skin excision is effective in the establishment of debridement borders and helps in saving maximal viable flap area (49.4%). All wounds healed with no major wound complications. The split-thickness skin excision can be used immediately in the care of severe crush injuries, compartment syndromes, and open fractures as a one-stage procedure with the following advantages: (1) reliable diagnosis of flap vascularity, (2) immediate wound coverage with the possibility of drainage, (3) elimination of further debridements procedures, (4) elimination of distant skin donor wounds, and (5) less hospitalization.