Myskin™ case studies

Patient Profile
Mr A
80 years old

Medical Condition
28% Mixed depth burns to face, trunk and lower limbs.

Before myskin

The Patient
After suffering burns to both his legs Mr A was taken to theatre to have his wounds debrided and split skin grafts applied to both legs. The skin grafts were unsuccessful and the wounds remained unhealed after 8 weeks.

Evaluation
The plastic surgeon did not feel that further skin grafts would benefit Mr A and was therefore referred for myskin dressings.

For myskin treatment, a thin biopsy (approximately 0.6mm thick, 2cmx2cm) of skin is taken from the thigh area and transported to the laboratory in sterile saline solution. The biopsy is treated with a digestive enzyme overnight. The following day the keratinocytes are isolated from the dermal/epidermal junction, multiplied in cell culture and stored in liquid nitrogen until they are needed.

Three days before dressings are required, keratinocytes are thawed and cultured on a 5cm silicone disc. These discs have a patented surface layer that encourages keratinocytes, to transfer from the dressing to the wound bed and promote re-epithelialization. This cell transfer process takes about four days after which the myskin dressing can be removed and a standard dressing applied.

Initially Mr A remained an in patient for the weekly myskin dressing and discharged home after three weeks. He then visited the dressing clinic weekly to have his wounds assessed and the myskin dressings applied.

After twelve applications the left leg had healed completely and the wound on the right leg had reduced in size enabling Mr A to return to theatre for further skin grafting. When seen in the clinic after three months Mr A’s legs remained healed.

Healed after 3 months

Outcome
Mr A experienced a reduction in pain after just two applications of myskin and this enabled him to be discharged home. Although Mr A has scar tissue to both legs the wounds have remained healed and he will continue to be monitored in the clinic.

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