[Clinical application of cultured epithelium]

The author have done clinical application of cultured epithelium grafting since 1985. In this article, the results of auto- and allografting (patients: 365 cases) were reported. By the cultivation of epidermal cells, many amount of cultured epithelium could be obtained. Cultured autografts took well to the partial thickness wounds. Grafted sites healed promptly and histologically resembled normal skin. Disfigurement on the skin surfaces was well treated and improved by autografting. Full thickness wounds caused by burn or excision of congenital giant nevi were treated with cryopreserved allogeneic skin and fresh autologous cultured epithelium. The results showed good graft take and histology. Allogeneic cultured epithelium accelerated the wound healing on the grafted area. Thus, the autologous and allogeneic cultured epithelial grafting procedure is a promising treatment for many patients suffering from large skin wounds or disfigurement of skin surfaces.