Myskin™ case studies

Patient Profile
Mr E.
17 years old
Spina Bifida

Medical Condition
Non-healing neuropathic ulcer.

Before myskin

The Patient
Mr E has a deformed foot which resulted in a blister forming and eventually deteriorating into a neuropathic ulcer due to ill fitting footwear. Despite conventional treatment the ulcer remained unhealed for four months. The plastic surgeon felt that a skin graft would be unsuccessful due to the poor wound bed which included exposed bone and tendon.

Evaluation
Mr E was referred for treatment with myskin to heal the wound.

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.

Mr E had the dressings applied once weekly and after nine applications the wound had improved greatly. The wound was now suitable for a skin graft though it was decided to continue with the myskin.

After 9 applications

After a further three applications the wound had decreased in size by 60%.

After 12 applications

Outcome
Once the wound had reduced in size, and the wound bed condition significantly improved, Mr E had a skin graft and, once the skin had closed completely he was able to have the foot deformity corrected.

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