[Skin allografts from donors in a wide range of ages]

The increasing deficit of alloskin, widely used in the treatment of burns, prompted this study aimed at establishing whether the skin of subjects who died beyond the age of 70 can effectively be used for allotransplantation. Clinical and histologic observations on allotransplantation with 18750 cm2 skin obtained from deceased patients in senile age showed that it may successfully be used for treatment of burn wounds or other skin defects. The difference from allotransplantation of skin obtained from young donors lies in the earlier epidermolysis of the grafts and their quicker immunologic rejection.