[Repair of excised burn wound with microskin grafting covered by autologous burn eschar].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of autologous burn eschar as the coverage of microskin grafting in the repair of excised severe burn wounds. METHODS: Twelve severe burn patients underwent massive escharectomy during 3 to 7 post burn days (PBD), and autologous eschar instead of alloskin was employed as the coverage of microskin. The integrity of grafted eschar and survival of microskin grafts were observed at 1 to 6 weeks after operation. The wound healing rate in grafted area was determined at 6 post operation week (POW), and the wound healing time was recorded. RESULTS: The autologous eschar in the grafted area were integral and attached tightly to the wound during the 1 to 2 POW and began to dry and detach from the burn wound with the microskin underneath growing and fusing at 3-4 POW. This process went on until the eschar was completely detached from the burn wound and the microskin fused in large areas, with some granulation wounds left at 5 and 6 POW. The wound healing rate at the 6 POW was (87 +/- 4)%. The average wound healing time of burn patients in this group was (56 +/- 8) days. CONCLUSION: Autologous eschar could be used as a substitute for the alloskin for microskin grafting in excised burn wounds.