CULTURE AND GRAFTING OF KERATINOCYTES

The culture and transplantation of keratinocytes are considered an imp ortant progress in the treatment of severe burns. The keratinocyte gra fts take best (50 to 90 %) on remaining dermal structures after deep d ermal (II b) burns. Since 1988 we culture also donor keratinocytes. Th ey are cryopreserved in the 'skin bank' in large quantities. As vital wound cover they allow for a rapid and near scarless reepithelialisati on. For deep (III) burns we use composite grafts of cultured auto-kera tinocytes on allo-dermis with increasing success (up to 75 % take rate ) without rejection.