Initial general management and surgery of six extensively burned children treated with cultured epidermal autografts

Purpose: The aim of this study was to document the surgical and intensive c are methods used in six extensively burned children (EBC), ie, total body s urface area (TBSA) burned over 70% or TBSA with deep bu rns over 60%, treat ed with cultured epidermal autografts (CEA). Methods: Six EBC, with a mean age of 7.5 years (range, 2.5 to 12) received CEA. Their mean TBSA burned was 82% (range, 70-94) with 74% (range; 60-90) of TBSA with deep burns. All sustained flame burns and inhalation injuries. Results: The survival rate was six of six. The average initial and final en graftment rates of CEA were, respectively, 79% (range, 70 to 95) and 84% (r ange, 72 to 100). CEA definitively covered 45% (range, 18 to 57) of TBSA fo r a mean cost per child of $80,000 (range, 55,000 to 110,000). Conclusion: Even if CEA are expensive, such engraftment rates and survival ratio results make them an excellent alternative wound covering method for EBC when donor sites for widely meshed autografts are exhausted. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.