The Role of Skin Substitutes in Acute Burn and Reconstructive Burn Surgery: An Updated Comprehensive Review

Alen Palackic; Robert P. Duggan; Matthew S. Campbell; Elliot Walters; Ludwik K. Branski; Amina El Ayadi; Steven E. Wolf

doi:10.1055/s-0042-1743455

Seminars in Plastic Surgery, Table of Contents

Semin Plast Surg 2022; 36(01): 033-042
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743455

Review Article

The Role of Skin Substitutes in Acute Burn and Reconstructive Burn Surgery: An Updated Comprehensive Review

Alen Palackic

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Burn and Trauma Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

²Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

,

Robert P. Duggan

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Burn and Trauma Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

,

Matthew S. Campbell

³School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

,

Elliot Walters

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Burn and Trauma Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

,

Ludwik K. Branski

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Burn and Trauma Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

,

Amina El Ayadi

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Burn and Trauma Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

,

Steven E. Wolf

¹Department of Surgery, Division of Burn and Trauma Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Burns disrupt the protective skin barrier with consequent loss of cutaneous temperature regulation, infection prevention, evaporative losses, and other vital functions. Chronically, burns lead to scarring, contractures, pain, and impaired psychosocial well-being. Several skin substitutes are available and replace the skin and partially restore functional outcomes and improve cosmesis. We performed a literature review to update readers on biologic and synthetic skin substitutes to date applied in acute and reconstructive burn surgery. Improvement has been rapid in the development of skin substitutes in the last decade; however, no available skin substitute fulfills criteria as a perfect replacement for damaged skin.

Keywords

burns - skin - total body surface area - epithelization - biologics - synthetic dressing

Full Text

References

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