Individualized surgical treatment using decellularized fish skin transplantation after enzymatic debridement: A two years retrospective analysis

Abstract

Over the past few years, treatment of burn injuries has evolved beyond primary surgical therapy with the development of enzymatic debridement and new types of skin replacement materials by providing complex personalized therapy concepts aimed at preserving and replacing the dermal layer of the skin.

The aim of our study was to develop an individualized treatment algorithm for mixed depth burn wound and evaluate the outcomes of individualized combined treatment of mixed depth burn wounds with enzymatic debridement and decellularized fish skin.

A total of 18 patients with a mean age of 34.8 years and mean follow-up of 447.6 days were included. The mean total burn surface area was 12.3%. All patients received enzymatic debridement and an average area of 247.2 cm² of decellularized fish skin. Days until complete epithelization were 49.4 ± 25.79 days. No patient developed scar contracture or keloid. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) observer scale showed an overall impression average of 2.2 ± 0.83. The POSAS patient scale showed an overall impression average 2 ± 0.7. The Vancouver Scar Scale showed an average score of 1.89 ± 1.45. In conclusion, combined treatment using enzymatic debridement and decellularized fish skin, polylactide membrane, or split skin grafts allows for a more individualized therapy for mixed depth burn wounds. Fish skin was found to provide a satisfying result in terms of the overall outcome of the developed scar tissue and could lead to a reduction in the area that requires autologous transplantation.