Cultured epidermal autograft and the treatment of the massive burn injury

As a rule, adult and pediatric patients with thermal injuries that involve more than 90% total body surface area (TBSA) burn have poor prognoses. Even for patients who are 5 to 34 years old with a 70% TBSA burn, the mortality rate is 80%. Lack of autologous donor skin, which is essential for permanent wound closure, is the major problem. Recent advances in growth of cultured epidermal autograft (CEA) have allowed closure of full- and partial-thickness burns; in approximately 3 weeks, a 2 cm2 biopsy specimen will produce enough CEA to cover a pediatric patient. Since 1989, we have used this product on nine patients; the average age was 39, and the average TBSA burn was 70% (range, 44% to 93%). We report our approach to use of CEA in six of these patients, including topical applications of 1% silver sulfadiazine and excision of full- and deep partial-thickness wounds within 2 weeks of injury. Temporary closure was achieved with cadaver allograft. "Take" of the allograft forecasted take of CEA. The total operative time of CEA placement was decreased by a two-step technique that obviates repeating debridement: the technique consists of debriding and grafting with allograft, then removing it at the time of CEA placement. CEA take is best on early granulation tissue or freshly excised wounds. Early excision of burn eschar, temporary wound closure with cadaveric allograft and Biobrane (Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, Wound Care Div., Fountain Valley, Calif.), and permanent closure with CEA may improve survival rates among patients with massive burn wounds. CEA is a tremendous asset to the management of massive burn injuries.