Clinical experience using cadaveric skin for wound closure in taiwan.

UNLABELLED: Taiwan's skin banking program was initially set up to provide a ready source of cadaveric skin for patients with severe burns. However, human cadaveric skin may offer a useful alternative to conventional dressings in other wounds as well.

METHODS

In this retrospective review, cadaveric skin transplantation was used as temporary coverage in 145 patients with chronic ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), necrotizing fasciitis, and acute traumatic wounds. Sex, age, number of debridements, and number of cadaveric skin transplantations were analyzed using statistical methods.

RESULTS

After clinical determination of engraftment 1 week after cadaveric skin allograft, skin samples harvested for histology in 15 cases revealed migration of epithelia from patient's skin to the surface of cadaver skin and the presence of granulation tissue in the base of the cadaver skin. All wounds exhibited good wound-bed preparation after cadaveric skin transplantation, and could eventually be resurfaced with a skin autograft.

CONCLUSION

Human cadaveric skin, in addition to being the mainstay in burn therapy, is a good biological dressing for chronic ulcers, DFUs, necrotizing fasciitis, and acute traumatic wounds. .