664 “Minimally Invasive” Skin Grafting with Enzymatic Debridement and Autologous Skin Cell Spray

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Minimally invasive surgery is increasingly becoming standard of care across numerous subspecialties. However, burn surgery has lagged behind; as the mainstay of reconstruction still involves wound excision with a knife, a commensurately sized skin graft, and a painful donor site. In recent years, several new technologies have the potential to be used synergistically to perform “minimally invasive” skin grafts. Enzymatic debridement with bromelain and autologous skin cell spray (ASCS) have independently been shown to reduce the need for split-thickness skin graft (STSG) and decrease the donor site size when grafting is performed. Bromelain is more likely to preserve healthy dermis and ASCS allows an 80:1 expansion. Due to constraints regarding the temporal course of these products only being available via studies before one was FDA approved, these two therapies have not been utilized together in the US until recently. A paucity of literature regarding their use in combination currently exists. Methods This study is a single site review of patients treated the continued access study protocol for bromelain-based enzymatic debridement and with ASCS per the FDA-approved instructions for use. Enzymatic debridement was performed over a 4-hour period with appropriate analgesia. Deep partial-thickness burns with residual dermis were treated with ASCS after enzymatic debridement and superficial dermabrasion. Wounds were dressed with a small pore non-adherent film and layered gauze. Full-thickness burn injuries were treated with conventional STSG. Results Two patients were treated over a 2 week period. One was a 51 yr old male with 17% TBSA superficial and deep partial thickness flame burns, of which 11% were deemed deep enough to warrant treatment with enzymatic debridement. 15% TBSA was treated with ASCS including the arms, back, and posterior neck with a 24 sq cm donor site. Wound closure was noted post-operative day 7 with complete re-epithelialization. The second patient was a 21-year-old male with several comorbidities impairing wound healing (diabetes [HgbA1c of 9.9], scurvy, and zinc deficiency. He had deep-partial and full-thickness burns to bilateral feet. The dorsum of the right foot was reconstructed with ASCS only and a 6 sq cm donor site, and the left foot was treated with a 3:1 meshed STSG and ASCS overspray with 100% take. Conclusions Enzymatic debridement and ASCS can be utilized to treat deep partial-thickness burns with a “minimally invasive” reconstruction. The donor sites in both patients were much smaller than had they been treated with a conventional meshed STSG. Further study is needed to determine which subsets of patients and burn wound characteristics are optimal for this combination of technologies. More data regarding outcomes such as length of stay, costs, and scar formation compared to standard of care is also warranted.