Cryopreserved human amnion in pediatric burn care: A retrospective single-center study over a decade

Pediatric partial-thickness burns at function-critical sites require rapid epithelialization to limit hypertrophic scarring and contracture. We assessed outcomes after tangential dermabrasion with application of cryopreserved human amnion (hAM).

Retrospective single-center cohort of children < 18 years treated from 2013 to June 2024. Standard care included early tangential dermabrasion and hAM fixation. Primary endpoint was days from injury to ≥ 95% re-epithelialization. Secondary endpoints included length of stay, autografting, hAM-related adverse events, hypertrophic scarring, contracture, and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) at 12 months.

Ninety-seven children were included (median age 1.8 years; 60.8% male; median total body surface area burned 10%). Median time to first dermabrasion and hAM application was 24 h. Median time to ≥ 95% re-epithelialization was 16 days. Larger burns healed more slowly (+1.22 days per 1% total body surface area; p < 0.001). Median length of stay was 8 days; autografting occurred in 19.6%. No adverse events were attributed to hAM. Hypertrophic scarring occurred in 34% and contracture in 13.4%. Longer time to closure increased the odds of hypertrophic scar (odds ratio per 5 days 1.20; p = 0.040) and contracture (odds ratio per 5 days 1.28; p = 0.002).

After standardized dermabrasion, cryopreserved hAM supported closure within the expected healing window. Time to epithelialization remained the main determinant of scar outcomes.