Full-thickness burn of the foot: successful treatment with Apligraf. A case report

Burn wounds, although uncommon in the foot, present a uniquely challenging opportunity to physicians. The keys to successful management include a proper and specific initial evaluation of the burning agent, the location, the TBSA affected, and the depth. Ultimately, proper recognition and meticulous wound care with skin grafting, when necessary, bring about the desired results. A case report of a patient with a third-degree burn over the dorsum of the left foot is presented. This case is unique in that Apligraf, a human skin equivalent, was used to gain coverage and eventual resolution of the wound. It is the authors' opinion that the use of Apligraf in this application is a viable alternative to traditional methods of skin harvesting and grafting. To the authors' knowledge, there have been no other cases reported of Apligraf use in burn wound coverage of the foot.