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Treating burns in severe cases usually involves transplanting the patient's own skin or skin from a stranger. However, modern methods of treating burns are now being developed that are faster, more effective and more comfortable than the traditional ones. Additionally, they can be used, for example, in the case of severe frostbite or diabetic foot. Check what are the modern methods of treating burns.

Treatment of burnsmay include treatment without a dressing (the so-called open method), treatment with dressings and - in the case of deep burns - surgical excision of necrotic tissues with wound closure with autografts, allografts and other materials that can be an alternative to leather.

Autograft( autogenic, autologous transplant ) means a skin transplant of the patient's own. Usually it is taken from the buttocks, back or thighs. First, autografts cover wounds located on the face, neck and periarticular surfaces. This type of method is used with a small burn area. Unfortunately, it leaves scars in two places - burns and skin removal.

In the case of extensive burn areas,allograft (allograft)is used, i.e. a skin graft from a stranger. According to specialists from the Burn Treatment Center in Siemianowice Śląskie, allogeneic skin is currently the best biological dressing available. It protects the wound against moisture loss, bacterial infections and stimulates wound healing. In the shortest possible time, it guarantees stabilization of the patient's condition and allows for the preparation of the patient for autologous transplant or transplantation of epidermis cultured in vitro. It is worth knowing that the Burn Treatment Center has a Tissue Bank, which is able to provide the necessary amount of allogenic skin necessary for transplants.

However, scientists are still working on other materials that can be an alternative to skin, not only in severely burned people, as well as those with frostbite or suffering from difficult to heal, extensive wounds - as in the case of diabetes. Currently, modern methods of treating burns include the above-mentioned. in vitro cultured epidermis transplant and stem cells. In the near future, perhaps, to treat burnspolymers and silver dressing will also be used.

Modern methods of treatment of burns - transplantation of the epidermis cultured in vitro

The method of culturing the epidermis in vitro consists in taking a section of the skin of intermediate thickness from the patient and then isolating keratinocytes (epidermal cells). The next stage is their multiplication for several weeks. In the meantime, the wound substrate is prepared for transplantation (the wound should be thoroughly cleaned and, if possible, covered with an allograft). Transplantation occurs when the appropriate number of keratinocytes multiplies. Finally, the graft is covered with a non-stick dressing.

This type of treatment is used in the Burn Treatment Center in Siemianowice Śląskie, where the In Vitro Cell and Tissue Culture Laboratory operates.

Modern burn treatment methods - stem cell transplant

One of the most modern methods of treating burns isallogeneic stem cell transplant , which are obtained from the patient's adipose tissue (there are 2500 times more stem cells in adipose tissue than in the bone marrow). Stem cells, incl. accelerate healing, stimulate the process of new epidermis growth, which is needed for the complete closure of the wound, and skin angiogenesis (the formation of skin capillaries).

First, the adipose tissue is collected by liposuction (it is suctioned). The cell preparation is then isolated using a special device. It subjects the stem cells to enzymatic digestion, repeated centrifugation and washing, and then rinsing from adipose tissue. The resulting substitute for stem and regenerative cells - ADRC (Adipose Derived Regenerative Cells) is ready for transplantation.

The entire process - adipose tissue removal, cell preparation and transplantation - is completed within one operating cycle.

This method of treating burns can be used not only in severely burned patients, but also, for example, in patients with trophic ulcer, third degree frostbite or with a diabetic foot.

Modern burn treatment methods - polymers

In the future, thermo-sensitive polymers can be another skin substitute that will allow for quick, effective and more comfortable treatment of extensive burns and difficult-to-heal and chronic wounds. Currently, specialists from the Center of Polymer and Carbon Materials of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Zabrze, the Burn Treatment Center in Siemianowice Śląskie, the Łódź University of Technology and the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice are working on them. Everything within the project "Thermostaticbiocompatible polymers as skin substitutes for the treatment of burns and wounds. "

First, substrates are made, which are covered with polymers (polymers are a material that is sensitive to temperature changes, which makes it an attractive substrate for the cultivation of skin cells). Then, skin cells that were previously collected from the patient are applied to the polymers and multiplied on them, forming a whole sheet. The temperature of the culture is then lowered so that the sheet of the patient's own skin cells detaches easily from the substrate. Occurring sheets may be transferred to the wound. However, additional research is required before this method of treating burns can be put into practice.

Modern methods of treating burns - silver dressing

In turn, doctors from the Military Medical Institute developed a silver dressing which is a synthetic skin substitute. It is a rescue material that enables temporary dressing of wounds and cavities (e.g. during military operations). The advantages of this type of dressing include excellent quality, high efficiency and the possibility of practically unlimited domestic production. In addition, the storage requirements for this type of dressing are not complicated.

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Category:

Dermatology