Free skin grafting in reconstructive surgery of burns in children

Abstract

When performing reconstructive surgery in children suffering from extensive post-burn hypertrophic scars, the main problem is deficiency of donor intact skin.

Aim. This study aimed to determine the possibility of using the expander skin balloon expansion method for obtaining free, large area split-thickness skin autografts.

Materials and methods. A comparative analysis of treatment for 39 children with extensive post-burn hypertrophic scars was performed. In 16 children (experimental group), balloon skin expansion of a donor site for obtaining large area split-thickness skin grafts (more than 100 cm²) was performed. In 23 children (control group), the large area grafts were cut off without prior balloon skin expansion of the donor site.

Results. In cases where it is necessary to close a wound defect over 100 cm², it is advisable to perform prior balloon skin expansion of the donor site. This technique enables attainment of an injury-resistant free implant full grafting material and also provides multiple uses of a donor site without disturbing the esthetics.

Keywords

thermal injury / hypertrophic scars / cicatricial deformities / balloon skin expander

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RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Afonichev K.A., Nikitin M.S., Proshchenko Y.N.