The Combination of Cultured Epidermal Autograft (CEA) and Split Thickness Skin Graft Technique (Meek) in Therapy for Severe Burns

Abstract

In our treatment of severely burned patients cultured epidermal autografts (CEA) are indicated when the burned surface is more than 65% TBSA (total burn surface area). Therefore laboratory cultured sheets of keratinocytes are used. Since the cultured skin is extremely sensitive to pressure and friction, the available autologous skin is transplanted on the bearing surfaces of the patient. Due to the limited amount of available autologous skin a high expansion ratio is necessary. This can be reached with the help of the Meek technique. Therefore the early wound closure of the severely burned patient is favoured by a combination of CEA transplantation and Meek autografting.

Key words

Burns - cultured epidermal autografts - Meek technique - autologous skin

References

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