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Review
. 2022 Apr 12;36(1):33-42.
doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1743455. eCollection 2022 Feb.

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

Alen Palackic  1   2 , Robert P Duggan  1 , Matthew S Campbell  3 , Elliot Walters  1 , Ludwik K Branski  1 , Amina El Ayadi  1 , Steven E Wolf  1
Affiliations
Review

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

Alen Palackic et al. Semin Plast Surg. .

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: biologics; burns; epithelization; skin; synthetic dressing; total body surface area.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest None declared.

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