Clinical application and long-term follow-up study of porcine acellular dermal matrix combined with autoskin grafting.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of porcine acellular dermal matrix combined with autoskin grafting on full-thickness skin defects using long-term clinical follow-up study and histologic examination. One hundred fifty-two patients with deep burn or trauma hospitalized from February 2000 to July 2003 were repaired with porcine acellular dermal matrix and split-thickness autoskin graft. Take rate of the grafts was calculated on 1 week after operation. Scar hyperplasia was examined on 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation. At the same time, the contracture rates of grafted areas were also calculated. Skin biopsy was performed on five patients for histologic examination, as well as transmission electron microscopy 78 months after operation. The take rate of grafts of 116 patients (76.3%) was 100%, and the take rate of the rest of the patients (36 patients, 23.7%) was more than 95%. No one needed skin transplantation for the second time. One hundred twenty-seven patients were followed up on 1 month after operation; grafts showed mild contraction. There was slight cicatricle at skin junction with tender texture. There was no obvious pruritus and blister. One hundred one patients were followed up on 3 months after operation. The graft contraction showed obvious relief with good articular function. Eighty-two patients were followed up on 6 months after operation. The color and texture of the grafts were similar to normal skin without obvious cicatricial hyperplasia. Fifty-eight patients were followed up on 12 months after operation. The grafts were similar to normal skin without obvious rejection. There were no significant differences between the contracture rates at 3, 6, and 12 months and 1 month after the second surgery. Sixteen patients were followed up on 78 months after operation. The appearance of grafts was slightly dry compared with normal skin. Tissue structure of grafts was similar to normal skin with sweat gland-like structure, and sweat gland cells were shown in the dermis. Xenogenic acellular dermal matrix combined with split-thickness autograft can repair full-thickness skin defects and inhibit scar proliferation without obvious immune rejection for long time. Newly formed sweat gland-like structure and sweat gland cells in the dermis may be a new research point for reconstruction of skin function.