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. 2021 Apr 30;57(5):432.
doi: 10.3390/medicina57050432.

Porcine Xenograft and Epidermal Fully Synthetic Skin Substitutes in the Treatment of Partial-Thickness Burns: A Literature Review

Herbert L Haller  1 , Sigrid E Blome-Eberwein  2 , Ludwik K Branski  3 , Joshua S Carson  4 , Roselle E Crombie  5 , William L Hickerson  6 , Lars Peter Kamolz  7 , Booker T King  8 , Sebastian P Nischwitz  7 , Daniel Popp  7 , Jeffrey W Shupp  9 , Steven E Wolf  2
Affiliations

Porcine Xenograft and Epidermal Fully Synthetic Skin Substitutes in the Treatment of Partial-Thickness Burns: A Literature Review

Herbert L Haller et al. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Porcine xenografts have been used successfully in partial thickness burn treatment for many years. Their disappearance from the market led to the search for effective and efficient alternatives. In this article, we examine the synthetic epidermal skin substitute Suprathel® as a substitute in the treatment of partial thickness burns. Materials and Methods: A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines has been performed. Sixteen Suprathel® and 12 porcine xenograft studies could be included. Advantages and disadvantages between the treatments and the studies' primary endpoints have been investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: Although Suprathel had a nearly six times larger TBSA in their studies (p < 0.001), it showed a significantly lower necessity for skin grafts (p < 0.001), and we found a significantly lower infection rate (p < 0.001) than in Porcine Xenografts. Nonetheless, no significant differences in the healing time (p = 0.67) and the number of dressing changes until complete wound healing (p = 0.139) could be found. Both products reduced pain to various degrees with the impression of a better performance of Suprathel® on a qualitative level. Porcine xenograft was not recommended for donor sites or coverage of sheet-transplanted keratinocytes, while Suprathel® was used successfully in both indications. Conclusion: The investigated parameters indicate that Suprathel® to be an effective replacement for porcine xenografts with even lower subsequent treatment rates. Suprathel® appears to be usable in an extended range of indications compared to porcine xenograft. Data heterogeneity limited conclusions from the results.

Keywords: dressing changes; epidermal skin substitute; grafting; healing time; infection rate; partial thickness burns; porcine xenograft; resorbable; suprathel; synthetic; workload.

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Conflict of interest statement

Herbert Haller is a consultant for Polymedics Innovations GmbH for training and teaching, and other companies not dealing with the paper’s topic. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The PRISMA procedure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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