Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of artificial dermis combined with autologous split-thickness skin grafting (STSG) compared with autologous intermediate-thickness skin grafting (ITSG) alone in severely burned patients. Fifty-six severely burned patients admitted to our hospital from December 2017 to January 2019 were enrolled and evenly grouped according to the random number table method [AD-STSG group: 28 patients, receiving the treatment of artificial dermis (AD) combined with autologous STSG; ITSG group: 28 patients, receiving autologous ITSG treatment alone]. The healing time and Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) score of the donor area and graft area, survival rate and infection status of the autologous skin, psychological status (determined by Self-rating Anxiety Scale and Self-rating Depression Scale), and the activity of functional parts of all enrolled patients were included in the evaluation. General items of patients in AD-STSG group and ITSG group, including age, sex, and degree of burn, were all comparable. A significantly shortened healing time of donor skin in AD-STSG group was observed when compared with ITSG group (P < .05) while the recipient skin healed in the same tendency between the two groups. In addition, 21 days after the operation, AD-STSG group presented with significantly higher survival rate of graft skin than ITSG group (P < .05) while same infection status was observed in the two groups. Significantly lower VSS scores were found in AD-STSG group than that in ITSG group 3-, 6- and 10-months after operation (P < .05). Statistical difference regarding psychological status of patients from two groups was unobservable before operation while significantly lower Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores were found in AD-STSG group than that in ITSG group 3-, 6- and 10-months after operation (P < .05). Also, AD-STSG group presented improved mobility of functional part than that in ITSG group 10-months after operation without statistical difference (P = .051). Artificial dermis combined with autologous split-thickness skin grafting showed better therapeutic outcomes for the treatment of severely burned patients than autologous intermediate-thickness skin grafting in terms of graft healing time, scar formation, psychological recovery, and perhaps in functional reconstruction.