Treatment of Chronic Ulcer with Epidermal Autograft / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Reepithelialization is necessary to protect a wound from the surrounding harmful environment. Keratinocytes synthesize basement membrane proteins and various cytokines contribute to wound healing. OBJECTIVE: This study was done to evaluate the effect of autograft using suction blistered epidermis on the treatment of chronic ulcers. METHODS: Fourteen patients with chronic ulcers were treated using autologous epidermal grafts. Grafted epidermis was fixed to recipient sites with TegadermTM for a week. RESULTS: The treatment with epideraml autograft was effective in 9 cases. The results were affected not by underlying systemic diseases but by lesional sites and local factors. The lesions on the feet brought the poorest results. The results also depended on the immobilization of grafted sites. CONCLUSION: Epidermal autograft is a useful method of treatment in some kinds of chronic ulcers.