Cultured epidermal allografts: Quantitative evaluation of their healing effect in deep dermal burns

This study summarizes the Brno Burn Centre experience with the application of cultured epidermal allografts (CEAl) in the treatment of deep dermal burns. In a prospective randomised trial on 30 patients with deep dermal burns CEAl obtained from young healthy and examined donors and fixed on tulle grass carrier (Grasolind) were compared with empty Grasolind as the lowest layer of dressing. All the other layers were identical. Both kinds of dressing were applied simultaneously on the same deep dermal burn wound between 6th and 10th day after burn. Six days later the non-healed wound areas were recorded through painting on cellophane membrane and scanned in the computer. The percentage of wound reduction was calculated and statistically evaluated. The reduction of the non-epithelialized wound area was 86.5% when covered through CEAl and only 71.2% when covered with tulle grass (Grasolind) only. This difference is statistically significant. In conclusion it can be stated that cultured epidermal allografts strongly stimulate reepithelialisation in deep dermal burns. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.