Human skin allograft: Is it a viable option in management of burn patients?

• Published in: Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 132 - 135
• Main Authors: Gupta, Saurabh, Mohapatra, Devi, Chittoria, Ravi, Subbarayan, Elankumar, Reddy, Sireesha, Chavan, Vinayak, Aggarwal, Abhinav, Reddy, Likhitha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.04.2019; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow
• Subjects: Burns; Care and treatment; Case Report; Case studies; Collagen; Hepatitis; HIV; Homografts; Human immunodeficiency virus; Infections; Morbidity; Pain; Patients; Pediatrics; Skin; Skin grafts; Transplantation; Wound healing; Wounds; India; Allograft; human; skin Keymessages: 1. Human skin allograft facilitates excision of burn wounds during acute phase of burn injury in pediatric patients. 2. Human skin allograft cannot be replaced by synthetic skin substitutes at present; burns; skin; 2. Human skin allograft cannot be replaced by synthetic skin substitutes at present; 1. Human skin allograft facilitates excision of burn wounds during acute phase of burn injury in pediatric patients
• ISSN: 0974-2077; 0974-5157
• DOI: 10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_83_18

Tangential excision and autologous split-thickness skin grafting is the standard management of the burn wound, but autograft has limitation of donor-site availability and morbidity. Human skin allograft is an alternate option of wound coverage when autograft is not available. Various synthetic skin substitute dressings are now available in the market, and thus use of human skin allograft has decreased. This case report explores the role of human skin allograft in burn wound management. Allograft facilitates excision of burn wounds during acute phase of burn injury in pediatric patients. It is cost-effective, reduces pain and risk of infection, and avoids frequent dressing changes. Availability of allograft and risk of infection are the two main constraints in its regular use.