A retrospective study followed by a clinical examination was carried o
ut 2-5 years postburn to analyse the long-term results of the treatmen
t of scalds in children (n = 45) with glycerol-preserved allografts. I
n 21 patients (47 per cent), the wounds healed spontaneously. In 24 pa
tients, remaining defects were closed by a split skin autograft in the
third week postburn. Healing without scar formation was seen in 24 pa
tients (53 per cent), 9 patients (21 per cent) showed moderate, and 12
patients (26 per cent) severe scar formation. Transplanted areas show
ed hyperpigmentation, and donor sites depigmentation. The cosmetic res
ults require further improvement, and classification of present and ne
w methods of treatment. Clinical research is limited by the number of
observations and the great variation in wounds. A well-standardized ex
perimental animal model is, therefore, essential.