A Cultured Autologous Dermo-epidermal Skin Substitute for Full-Thickness Skin Defects: A Phase I, Open, Prospective Clinical Trial in Children.

BACKGROUND

The management of deep partial-thickness and full-thickness skin defects remains a significant challenge. Particularly with massive defects, the current standard treatment, split-thickness skin grafting, is fraught with donor-site limitations and unsatisfactory long-term outcomes. A novel, autologous, bioengineered skin substitute was developed to address this problem.

METHODS

To determine whether this skin substitute could safely provide permanent defect coverage, a phase I clinical trial was performed at the University Children's Hospital Zurich. Ten pediatric patients with acute or elective deep partial- or full-thickness skin defects were included. Skin grafts of 49 cm were bioengineered using autologous keratinocytes and fibroblasts isolated from a patient's small skin biopsy specimen (4 cm), incorporated in a collagen hydrogel.

RESULTS

Graft take, epithelialization, infection, adverse events, skin quality, and histology were analyzed. Median graft take at 21 days postoperatively was 78 percent (range, 0 to 100 percent). Healed skin substitutes were stable and skin quality was nearly normal. There were four cases of hematoma leading to partial graft loss. Histology at 3 months revealed a well-stratified epidermis and a dermal compartment comparable to native skin. Mean follow-up duration was 15 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In the first clinical application of this novel skin substitute, safe coverage of skin defects was achieved. Safety and efficacy phase II trials comparing the novel skin substitute to split-thickness skin grafts are ongoing.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.