Application of Shen's New Technical System in Meek micrografting for patients with extensive burns: A retrospective pilot cohort study with historical controls.

BACKGROUND

Extensive burns pose a severe clinical challenge where surgical closure must be synchronized with physiological support to ensure survival. Although Meek micrografting improves wound coverage, patients remain vulnerable to systemic complications. This preliminary exploratory study aimed to examine clinical outcomes associated with the implementation of "Shen's New Technical System for Critical Burn Treatment" in patients with extensive burns undergoing Meek micrografting.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective pilot cohort study with historical controls involving ten patients with extensive burns(>50% TBSA) treated between 2021 and 2025. Patients were stratified into a Control Group (n = 5) receiving standard care and a New Technology Group (n = 5) managed under the new technical system. Intergroup differences were evaluated for treatment efficiency including hospital length of stay (LOS) and total costs alongside clinical parameters including residual wound area at one month, catheter utilization, infection rates, nutritional support utilization, and gastrointestinal complications.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were observed in the measured baseline characteristics between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The New Technology Group demonstrated a greater than 50% reduction in hospital LOS (40 ± 15 vs. 86 ± 25 days, P = 0.010) and a substantial decrease in total hospitalization costs (0.49 ± 0.31 vs. 1.46 ± 0.75 million RMB, P = 0.042). The New Technology Group had a smaller residual open wound area at one month (4 ± 4% vs. 37 ± 8% TBSA, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the New Technology Group had significantly fewer total deep vein catheters (P = 0.008), positive deep vein catheter cultures (P = 0.043), positive blood culture episodes (P = 0.029), and diarrhea occurrences (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Shen's New Technical System was associated with shorter hospital stays, lower hospitalization costs, faster wound closure, and fewer catheter-, infection-, and gastrointestinal-related complications in patients undergoing Meek micrografting, suggesting potential advantages in improving overall rescue efficiency for extensive burns.