A single institution case series of ReCell^® use in treating pediatric burns

Thermal injury has a significant impact on disability and morbidity in pediatric patients. Challenges in caring for pediatric burn patients include limited donor sites for large total body surface area (TBSA) burn as well as optimization of wound management for long term growth and cosmesis. ReCell^® technology produces autologous skin cell suspensions from minimal donor split-thickness skin samples, allowing for expanded coverage using minimal donor skin. Most literature on outcomes reports on adult patients.

We present the largest to-date retrospective review of ReCell^® technology use in pediatric patients at a single pediatric burn center.

Patients were treated at a quaternary care, free-standing, American Burn Association verified Pediatric Burn Center. A retrospective chart review was performed from September 2019 to March 2022, during which time twenty-one pediatric burn patients had been treated with ReCell^® technology. Patient information was collected, including demographics, hospital course, burn wound characteristics, number of ReCell^® applications, adjunct procedures, complications, healing time, Vancouver scar scale measurements, and follow-up. A descriptive analysis was performed, and medians were reported.

Median TBSA burn on initial presentation was 31% (ranging 4%-86%). The majority of patients (95.2%) had placement of a dermal substrate prior to ReCell^® application. Four patients did not receive split thickness skin grafting with their ReCell^® treatment. The median time between date of burn injury and first ReCell^® application was 18 days (ranging 5-43 days). The number of ReCell^® applications ranged from 1-4 per patient. Median time until wound was classified as healed was 81 days (ranging 39-573 days). The median maximum Vancouver scar scale measurement per patient at time healed was 8, ranging from 3-14. Five patients who received skin grafts had graft loss and three of these patients had graft loss from areas with ReCell^®.

ReCell^® technology provides an additional method for wound coverage, either on its own or in conjunction with split thickness skin grafting, and is safe and effective in pediatric patients.