Skin graft and skin equivalent in burns

The problem in extensive burns is the relative lack of available donor sites for skin grafting. Before the burnt areas can be covered, infection often sets in and the patients may then succumb. Skin grafts can be expanded in a limited way. Biological dressings or synthetic dressings can be used to buy time till donor sites become available. Cultured epithelium grown in the tissue culture laboratory permits massive expansion of skin and has been used with success as epithelial autografts in patients. Composite skin equivalents or skin substitutes have been developed and show promise.