Comisuroplastia mediante colgajo de perforante digital en secuelas cicatriciales de quemaduras / Commissuroplasty using a digital perforator flap in the cicatricial sequelae of burns

Introducción y objetivo: Las bridas cicatriciales en mano como secuela de quemaduras pueden suponer impotencia funcional. El colgajo de perforante de la arteria digital tomado de la cara lateral de los dedos constituye una excelente opción terapéutica para el manejo de estas lesiones. Describimos nuestra experiencia con esta técnica quirúrgica y mostramos sus resultados morfológicos y funcionales. Material y método: Presentamos nuestra experiencia con 14 colgajos en 7 pacientes afectos de bridas comisurales en mano. Estos colgajos, basados en perforantes de la arteria digital, toman como zona donante la cara lateral de la falange proximal adyacente. Cubrimos la zona donante con injertos de piel de espesor total. Los pacientes fueron sometidos a rehabilitación precoz, presoterapia y férulas nocturnas. Resultados: La supervivencia de los colgajos fue completa en los 14 casos. En 1 caso se produjo necrosis del injerto en la zona donante del colgajo, solucionada con curas. Resolvimos la brida comisural en el 85.7 % de los casos (13 de 14 casos). El seguimiento medio fue de 27.3 meses (rango 12-45 meses). En 1 caso se produjo recidiva parcial a los 10 meses, solucionada mediante Z-plastias. Los pacientes experimentaron mejoría subjetiva de la funcionalidad y estética de la mano. La apertura del ángulo del espacio interdigital, medida en grados, mejoró desde una media de 22.5 grados preoperatorios (rango 150-350) a una media de 36.8 grados postoperatorios (rango 250-450). Conclusiones: En nuestra experiencia, el colgajo de perforante de arteria digital es una opción terapéutica rápida, sencilla y eficaz en el tratamiento de las contracturas tras quemaduras del segundo al cuarto espacio interdigital. Son fundamentales el adecuado cuidado postoperatorio, rehabilitación, presoterapia y ferulización para un resultado óptimo.(AU)

Background and objective: Scar contractures in the hand are a sequela of burns that can lead to functional impairment. The perforator flap from the digital artery, taken from the lateral aspect of the fingers, represents an excellent therapeutic option for managing these injuries. We present our experience with this surgical technique and our morphological and functional results. Methods: We present our experience with 14 flaps in 7 patients affected by web contractures in the hand. These flaps, based on perforators from the digital artery, use the adjacent lateral aspect of the proximal phalanx as the donor site. The donor area was covered with full-thickness skin grafts. Patients underwent early rehabilitation, pressure therapy, and nighttime splinting. Results: The survival of the flaps was successful in all 14 cases. One case experienced graft necrosis in the donor site of the flap, which resolved with conservative treatment. Commissural contractures were resolved in 85.7% of the cases (13 out of 14 cases). The mean follow-up period was 27.3 months (range 12-45 months). In 1 case, partial recurrence occurred at 10 months and it was successfully managed with Z-plasty. Patients reported subjective improvement in hand functionality and aesthetics. The interdigital space angle, measured in degrees, improved from a mean of 22.5 degrees preoperatively (range 15°-35°) to a mean of 36.8 degrees postoperatively (range 25°-45°). Conclusions: In our experience, the perforator flap from the digital artery represents a rapid, straightforward, and effective therapeutic option for treating contractures after burns in the second to fourth interdigital spaces. Adequate postoperative care, rehabilitation, pressure therapy and splinting are essential for optimal outcomes.(AU)

Treatment of hyperpigmentation after burn: A literature review.

OBJECTIFY: Skin pigmentation disorders are one of the most frequent sequelae after burn injury. While these conditions often improve over time, some are permanent and cause severe psychological disorders (especially on the face). Given the frequency of these disorders and their benign nature, the scientific community has great difficulty postponing these patient follow-ups. Publications on their management are rare, and there is no consensus on the gold standard treatment for skin dyschromia. Herein, we performed a literature review including the various treatments currently proposed to manage these hyperpigmentations. METHODS: All reported articles up to February 2021 were reviewed on Pubmed. Studies on the treatment of hyperpigmented scars were included if they were secondary to burn injuries. Excluded articles evaluated transient treatments, such as makeup, and articles on inflammatory hyperpigmentation without etiological details or not secondary to burns. RESULTS: 201 articles were identified, and 13 studies were included. Topical creams used in inflammatory hyperpigmented lesions such as hydroquinone and first-line retinoids are controversial due to their inconstant efficacy. Various types of laser and pulsed light treatments have shown their effectiveness but can also aggravate pigmentation. CONCLUSION: Dyschromia after burn remains a therapeutic challenge. Hyperpigmentations after burn should be treated on a case-by-case basis, using data from the literature, clinical experience and measuring the risk/benefit ratio.

Reverse Lip Lift For Deep Face Burn Sequelae With Bilateral Nostril Stenosis And Lip Contracture: An Original Technique. A Case And Literature Review.

Bilateral nostril stenosis resulting from deep facial burn that occurred on an oxygen-requiring patient with tobacco use is life threatening with obstruction of the airway and impossibility of oxygen supplementation use. We report the case of a deep burn involving the nose and the upper lip during oxygen and tobacco use with a severe bilateral nostril stenosis and upper lip retraction. We did a reverse bullhorn lip lift with bilateral alar base transposition realized in a one-stage surgery with nasal conformer for 4 months. Surgery allowed a significant opening of the nostril stenosis with a 9mm and 11mm major axis on the right and left side respectively. It brought restoration of the ability to nose breath and use an oxygen device, and was considered satisfactory by the patient and the operators. There was no recurrence at 18-month follow-up. Literature provides few examples of management of severe bilateral nostril stenosis following facial deep burn. Nasal conformers with progressive diameter augmentation, rhinoplasty procedure, local plasties, dermal flap, skin and composite grafts can treat this situation but there is no gold standard procedure. Reverse bullhorn lip lift with bilateral alar base transposition makes it possible to correct this severe deep burn sequela. With this clinical case, we show the possibility to treat it in a one-stage procedure through an aesthetic procedure inspiration, with an acceptable scar on the donor site.

La survenue d'une sténose narinaire bilatérale après une brûlure profonde de la face, chez un patient oxygénodépendant et fumeur, impacte le pronostic vital, par obstruction des voies aériennes supérieures et impossibilité d'utiliser l'oxygénothérapie. Nous rapportons le cas d'une brûlure profonde du nez et de la lèvre supérieure survenue en fumant pendant l'oxygénothérapie, entraînant une importante sténose narinaire bilatérale et une rétraction de la lèvre supérieure. Nous avons réalisé un lifting labial en corne de buffle inversé avec transposition bilatérale des ailes narinaires en un seul temps opératoire. Un conformateur narinaire a été porté pendant quatre mois. Cette chirurgie a permis une ouverture significative des sténoses narinaires, avec 9 mm et 11 mm de grand axe transversal respectivement à droite et à gauche. Cela a permis de restaurer la fonction respiratoire nasale et de permettre le port du masque à oxygène. Le résultat a été jugé satisfaisant par le patient et par les opérateurs. Nous n'avons pas noté de récidive à 18 mois de la chirurgie. La littérature rapporte peu de cas de sténose narinaire bilatérale après brûlure profonde de la face. Des conformateurs narinaires de diamètre progressivement croissant, des techniques type rhinoplastie, des plasties locales, des lambeaux cutanés, des greffes cutanées ou composites ont été décrites mais il n'y a pas de consensus. La technique de lifting labial en corne de buffle inversé associée à une transposition des ailes narinaires nous a permis de traiter ces séquelles de brûlure profonde. À travers ce cas cliniques, nous montrons la possibilité de traitement en un temps par une technique inspirée des techniques de chirurgie esthétique et avec un résultat cicatriciel acceptable.

[Superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator free flap in pediatric reconstruction: A case report]. / Lambeau libre SCIP en reconstruction pédiatrique : à propos d'un cas.

The dorsalis pedis reconstruction requires to bring a thin tissue to recover every noble structure of the foot including tendons, nerves and vessels while resisting the stress induced on these structures when walking or wearing shoes. We report the case of a thirteen year-old child who presented a third-degree burn sequelae on the dorsalis pedis with scar retraction and chronic ulceration on the fifth metatarsal despite multiple skin grafts. He couldn't put on his shoes because of the pain and walking was difficult. We performed a SCIP flap (Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery Perforator) to reconstruct this defect. The flap measuring 12×7cm has been harvested on the right groin and anastomosed with the pedicle of the first intermetatarsal space. At 3 months postoperatively, the child can put on his shoes again and walk without pain. The donor site is discrete in the inguinal crease, hidden in the underwear. The SCIP flap is a thin and pliable flap with a discrete donor site. It is suitable for reconstructions of distal extremities of limbs, both in adults and children.

The impact of discharge contracture on return to work after burn injury: A Burn Model System investigation.

INTRODUCTION: Despite many advances in burn care, the development of extremity contracture remains a common and vexing problem. Extremity contractures have been documented in up to one third of severely burned patients at discharge. However, little is known about the long-term impact of these contractures. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of extremity contractures with employment after burn injury. METHODS: We obtained data from the Burn Model System database from 1994 to 2003. We included in the study cohort all adult patients who were working prior to injury and identified those discharged with and without a contracture in one of the major extremity joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle). We classified contracture severity according to mild, moderate and severe categories. We performed descriptive analyses and predictive modeling to identify injury and patient factors associated with return to work (RTW) at 6, 12, and 24 months. RESULTS: A total of 1,203 participant records met criteria for study inclusion. Of these, 415 (35%) had developed a contracture at discharge; 9% mild, 12% moderate, and 14% severe. Among 801 (67%) participants who had complete data at 6 months after discharge, 70% of patients without contracture had returned to work compared to 45% of patients with contractures (p < 0.001). RTW increased at each subsequent follow-up time point for the contracture group, however, it remained significantly lower than in no-contracture group (both p < 0.01). In multivariable analyses, female sex, non-Caucasian ethnicity, larger burn size, alcohol abuse, number of in-hospital operations, amputation, and in-hospital complications were associated with a lower likelihood of employment. In adjusted analyses, discharge contracture was associated with a lower probability of RTW at all 3 time points, although its impact significantly diminished at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates an association between discharge contracture and reduced employment 6, 12 and 24 months after burn injury. Among many other identified patient, injury, and hospitalization related factors that are barriers to RTW, the presence of a contracture at discharge adds a significant reintegration burden for working-age burn patients.

Fat Grafting for Treatment of Facial Burns and Burn Scars.

This article presents the authors' experience with the use of fat grafting via the Coleman technique, for the adjuvant treatment of facial burn wounds and their sequelae. It demonstrates the regenerative effects of fat injected under the wound and/or the scar as well as of fat delivered to the debrided surface of the wound and to the surface of the scar after laser treatment or microneedling.

Refining the extended circumflex scapular flap for neck burn reconstruction: A 30-year experience.

INTRODUCTION: Neck burn sequelae remain a major challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. To achieve satisfactory functional and aesthetic results, the anterior neck aesthetic unit must be covered as a single unit. In cases where free flaps are required, harvesting a flap of sufficient size can cause major donor site morbidity. In 1994, we published our favorable 6-year experience of reconstructing neck burn sequelae with an extended circumflex scapular flap (ECSF). Since then, we have made several modifications to the technique, resulting in improved long-term functional and aesthetic results. Herein, we present our 30-year, 150-patient experience with the ECSF flap for the treatment of anterior neck burn sequelae. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 150 consecutive patients who underwent ECSF procedure for neck resurfacing performed or supervised by the senior author from 1986 to 2015. All cases were assessed for function, aesthetics, satisfaction, and complications. RESULTS: A total of 160 ECSFs were used in 150 patients. Ninety-nine patients were available for updated follow-up [1-30 years (mean, 15.3)]. At the last follow-up, 92 patients regained full range of motion, and 90 patients had acceptable cervicomental angle (<110°). The mean patient satisfaction score was 4.8/5. Nine flaps (5.6%) failed completely and were successfully replaced. Twenty-two patients (15%) had distal necrosis of the flap. Fifteen of these 22 patients underwent complementary flaps to replace the necrotic area, and all 15 patients regained full range of motion. CONCLUSIONS: For neck burn sequelae, the ECSF provides safe and effective long-term functional and aesthetic results with minimal donor site morbidity.

Reconstruction of thoracic burn sequelae by scar release and flap resurfacing.

INTRODUCTION: In the USA, 450,000 thermal burns receive medical treatment annually. Burn scars are commonly excised and covered with skin grafts. Long-term, these treatments commonly leave patients with discomfort, reduced total lung capacity and forced vital capacity, and restriction of thoracic expansion and shoulder joint mobility. In this article, we present our experience with using scar release and immediate flap reconstruction to treat thoracic restriction due to burn sequelae. METHODS: From 1998 to 2014, we enrolled 16 patients with anterior thoracic burn sequelae that had previously been treated conservatively or with skin grafts that eventually recidivated. Preoperatively, we measured thoracic circumference in expiration and inspiration, %FVC, %FEV1, and shoulder mobility. All patients underwent anterior thoracic scar release and immediate flap resurfacing. RESULTS: At 2 weeks to 3 months postoperatively (mean, 2.6 months), mean thoracic circumference upon inspiration increased from 83.6 cm±5.7 to 86.5 cm±5.8 (p<0.0000000001). Mean %FVC improved from 76.0%±2.64% to 88.2%±4.69% (p<0.0000001). Mean %FEV1 improved from 79.2%±3.85 to 87.8%±2.98 (p<0.000001). All 14 patients who had restricted shoulder mobility preoperatively no longer had restricted shoulder mobility postoperatively. The mean patient-reported satisfaction was 4.6/5 (range, 3-5). At a mean follow up of 2.5 years, none of the contractures recidivated. Complications included 2 cases of tissue necrosis of the distal end of the flap. In one case, the flap was restored; in the other case, the patient eventually had to receive a new flap. Additional complications included two local infections that were successfully treated with oral and local antibiotics and two hematomas that were drained and eventually healed without tissue loss. CONCLUSIONS: Scar releases and flaps provide a safe and effective method for the correction of restricted thoracic expansion, respiratory restriction, decreased range of shoulder motion, and discomfort from thoracic burn sequelae.

Fat grafting for treatment of burns, burn scars, and other difficult wounds.

This article presents the authors' 3-year experience with the use of fat grafting, via the Coleman technique, for the adjuvant treatment of burn wounds, venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and burn scars. It demonstrates the regenerative effects of fat injected under the scar, and of fat injected under the wound, in the periphery of the wound, and within a bone fracture line or space, and of fat deposited over the wound.

Tratamiento integral del paciente gran quemado / Comprehensive treatment of severe burnt patient

Paciente masculino de 47 años de edad, con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial. En mayo de 2009 sufrió un accidente en su hogar con gasolina inflamada, lo que le produjo lesiones en cara, cuello anterior, tronco y extremidades. Estas alcanzaron el 67,7 % de la superficie corporal total, de ellas el 51,3 % fueron quemaduras hipodérmicas y el 16,4 % dérmicas AB, para un índice de gravedad de 59,5 y pronóstico de vida de crítico extremo. Se decide ingreso en régimen de terapia intensiva del Servicio de Caumatología del Hospital Militar Central “Dr. Luis Díaz Soto”, donde se le realizaron varios tratamientos quirúrgicos. Tuvo una estadía hospitalaria de 98 días. Al alta quedaron como secuelas posquemaduras, múltiples cicatrices hipertróficas y queloideas en todo su cuerpo, sindactilia en mano izquierda y microstoma. Regresó a nuestro servicio a los 2 años y 6 meses para tratamiento reconstructivo de cicatriz queloidea que interesaba mentón y labio superior, así como del microstoma. Se realizó la reconstrucción de la zona afectada mediante la combinación de plastias locales y a distancia. Se obtuvo satisfactorios resultados estéticos y funcionales, lo que demuestra que el tratamiento integral del paciente quemado garantiza la sobrevida, el control de la sepsis, la mejoría estética, funcional y de la esfera psíquica.

A 47 year-old male patient with a history of hypertension suffered an inflamed gasoline accident at home in May 2009. This accident produced lesions on his face, anterior neck, trunk and limps. These burns reached 67.7 % of the total body surface area, out of which 51.3 % were hypodermic burns, and 16.4 % dermal AB, for a 59.5 severity index and prognosis of extremely critical. His admission is decided in intensive care regimen of the Burn Therapy Service at the Central Military Hospital where various surgical treatments were performed. He had a hospital stay of 98 days. At discharge sequelae were left as post burns, multiple keloids and hypertrophic scars all over his body, syndactyly microstoma in his left hand. The patient returned to our service at 2 years and 6 months for reconstructive treatment of keloid scar affecting his chin and upper lip, and the microstoma. Reconstruction of the affected area was performed by combining local and distance plasty. Satisfactory aesthetic and functional results were obtained, demonstrating that comprehensive treatment of burn patients guarantees survival, sepsis control, aesthetic, functional and psychic sphere improvement.

Tratamiento integral del paciente gran quemado / Comprehensive treatment of severe burnt patient

Paciente masculino de 47 años de edad, con antecedentes de hipertensión arterial. En mayo de 2009 sufrió un accidente en su hogar con gasolina inflamada, lo que le produjo lesiones en cara, cuello anterior, tronco y extremidades. Estas alcanzaron el 67,7 por ciento de la superficie corporal total, de ellas el 51,3 por ciento fueron quemaduras hipodérmicas y el 16,4 por ciento dérmicas AB, para un índice de gravedad de 59,5 y pronóstico de vida de crítico extremo. Se decide ingreso en régimen de terapia intensiva del Servicio de Caumatología del Hospital Militar Central Dr Luis Díaz Soto, donde se le realizaron varios tratamientos quirúrgicos. Tuvo una estadía hospitalaria de 98 días. Al alta quedaron como secuelas posquemaduras, múltiples cicatrices hipertróficas y queloideas en todo su cuerpo, sindactilia en mano izquierda y microstoma. Regresó a nuestro servicio a los 2 años y 6 meses para tratamiento reconstructivo de cicatriz queloidea que interesaba mentón y labio superior, así como del microstoma. Se realizó la reconstrucción de la zona afectada mediante la combinación de plastias locales y a distancia. Se obtuvo satisfactorios resultados estéticos y funcionales, lo que demuestra que el tratamiento integral del paciente quemado garantiza la sobrevida, el control de la sepsis, la mejoría estética, funcional y de la esfera psíquica(AU)

A 47 year-old male patient with a history of hypertension suffered an inflamed gasoline accident at home in May 2009. This accident produced lesions on his face, anterior neck, trunk and limps. These burns reached 67.7 percent of the total body surface area, out of which 51.3 percent were hypodermic burns, and 16.4 percent dermal AB, for a 59.5 severity index and prognosis of extremely critical. His admission is decided in intensive care regimen of the Burn Therapy Service at the Central Military Hospital where various surgical treatments were performed. He had a hospital stay of 98 days. At discharge sequelae were left as post burns, multiple keloids and hypertrophic scars all over his body, syndactyly microstoma in his left hand. The patient returned to our service at 2 years and 6 months for reconstructive treatment of keloid scar affecting his chin and upper lip, and the microstoma. Reconstruction of the affected area was performed by combining local and distance plasty. Satisfactory aesthetic and functional results were obtained, demonstrating that comprehensive treatment of burn patients guarantees survival, sepsis control, aesthetic, functional and psychic sphere improvement(AU)

The cost of post-burn scarring.

Deep burns lead to scarring and contractures for which there is little or no published data on treatment costs. The purpose of this study was to fill this gap by analysing treatment costs for burn sequelae. To do this, German-DRG for in-patient treatment was collected from the Burn Centre Lower Saxony. DRG-related T95.-coding served as a tool for burn-associated sequelae. Data on scar occurrence, plastic-reconstructive surgery and sick leave were collected by a questionnaire. The findings showed that 44.6% patients reported post-burn scarring and 31% needed surgical intervention. The expected risk for readmission was significantly higher (p=0.0002) with scars compared to without. Significantly higher costs for pressure garments were noted for scarred patients (p=0.04). No differences were found for ointments, silicone dressings or pain medication. Treatment costs for patients with scars were 5.6 times higher compared with no scar assessed by G-DRG. No differences were stated subsuming multiple readmissions for post-burn treatment per individual. Significantly higher costs (p=0.03) were noted for patients with burn sequelae other than scars with regard to individual readmissions. It has been revealed that treatment of scars causes higher costs than for other burn sequelae because of multiple surgical interventions. To reduce post-burn scarring and costs, specialized burn centres provide optimal and state-of-the-art treatment. As well as this, more emphasis should be laid on promoting research for the development of novel anti-scarring therapies.

Les brûlures profondes entraînent des cicatrices et des contractures pour lesquels il n'existe pas de données publiées dés coûts de traitement. Le but de cette étude était de combler cette lacune en analysant les coûts de traitement des séquelles de brûlures. Nous avons recueillies les données sur les séquelles de brûlure du Centre de Brûlés de Basse-Saxe en utilisant un questionnaire. Toutes les informations sur les cicatrices, la chirurgie plastique reconstructive et les congés de maladie ont été recueillies. Les résultats ont montré que 44.6% des patients avaient des cicatrices et 31% ont eu besoin d'une intervention chirurgicale. Le risque de réadmission était significativement plus élevé (p = 0,0002) parmi les patients avec des cicatrices. Pour ces patients les coûts étaient considérablement plus élevés pour les vêtements de compression (p = 0,04) mais, en ce qui concerne les pommades, les pansements siliconés ou les médicaments contre la douleur aucune différence n'a été trouvée. Les coûts de traitement pour les patients porteurs de cicatrices étaient 5,6 fois plus élevés par rapport aux patients sans aucune cicatrice. Les coûts plus élevés (p = 0,03) ont été observés chez les patients avec des séquelles de brûlures autre que cicatrices dues aux réadmissions individuelles. Nous avons noté aussi que le traitement des cicatrices entraîne des coûts plus élevés par rapport aux autres séquelles à cause des interventions chirurgicales multiples. Pour réduire les cicatrices post-brûlures, et donc les coûts, les centres spécialisés fournissent un meilleur traitement. De plus, l'accent devrait être mis sur la recherche pour le développement de nouvelles thérapeutiques anti-cicatrices.

Tissue expansion for burn sequelae: Jeitawe Burn Center, Lebanon.

Burn sequelae used to be treated with skin grafts and local or distant flaps with a high morbidity on the donor site. The purpose of treatment today by skin expansion is to achieve aesthetic amelioration, as the advantage of this technique is that it becomes possible to obtain local flaps with the same characteristics of colour, texture, hair, and sensitivity as normal skin. This is a review of 14 cases of burn patients treated between 2006 and 2010 at our burn centre at Jeitawe Hospital, Lebanon. The patients' ages ranged from 6 to 50 yr. The regions expanded were the scalp, forehead, neck, trunk, and the upper and lower limbs. The implants were positioned on the fascial layer; antibiotics and drainage were routinely used. The inflation of the expander began two weeks after surgery and continued for an average time of three months. Complications were rare. Results were good with an improvement of scars and minimal morbidity. Fifty per cent of our patients underwent another expansion.

Uso de sustituto dérmico en niños con secuelas de quemaduras: tres casos clínicos / Dermis cutaneous substitute for burn sequel: 3 case-reports

Background: In COANIQUEM, burn sequel ambulatory reconstructive surgeries in paediatric patients are performed during their rehabilitation treatments. One of these surgeries is the traditional technique of post burn contracture release and split-thickness skin grafting. A new alternative has been the appearance of a dermis substitute (Integra, Dermal Regeneration Template). There is no previous experience in Chile with this artificial skin applied in children with burn sequel. Objective: Evaluate the ambulatory utilization of this dermis substitute in paediatric patients with burn sequel and their evolution during two years. Case-reports: Surgeries carried out during 2004 in three patients 9 to 13 years-old, with upper extremity esthetic - functional sequel. 24 months after surgery, a life- quality test (BSHS) and a rehabilitation protocol were applied. Results: There were no surgical complications in the three patients; the grafting attachment percentage varied between 75 and 100 percent. All of them needed compression therapy for 13 months. The elasticity and folding were similar to normal skin two years after evolution, with absence of fibrosis and graft contraction. BSHS was favourable. One case presented mild infection. Conclusion: Dermis cutaneous substitute Integra constitutes a good treatment alternative and its ambulatory use is possible without surgical complications.

Introducción: En COANIQUEM se realizan cirugías reconstructivas de secuelas de quemaduras en forma ambulatoria, en pacientes pediátricos durante su tratamiento de rehabilitación. Una de estas cirugías es la técnica tradicional del desbridamiento más injerto dermo-epidérmico. Una nueva alternativa ha sido la aparición del sustituto dérmico Integra (Dermal Regeneration Témplate). En Chile, no existe experiencia con este sustituto dérmico aplicado en forma ambulatoria en niños con secuelas de quemaduras. Objetivo: evaluar la utilización de un sustituto dérmico en forma ambulatoria, en pacientes pediátricos con secuelas de quemadura y su evolución a dos años plazo. Casos clínicos: cirugías realizadas durante 2004 en tres pacientes de 9 a 13 años de edad, con secuelas estético-funcionales de extremidad superior. Se aplicó protocolo de evaluación de rehabilitación a 24 meses y administración de test de calidad de vida (BSHS). Resultados: No hubo complicaciones quirúrgicas en los tres pacientes; el porcentaje de prendimiento varió entre 75 y 100 por ciento. Todos requirieron presoterapia por 13 meses. La elasticidad y plegabilidad fue similar a la piel normal a los dos años de evolución, con ausencia de fibrosis y contracción del injerto. BSHS resultó favorable. Hubo presencia de infección leve en un caso. Conclusión: El sustituto dérmico Integra® es una buena alternativa de tratamiento y es posible su uso en forma ambulatoria sin mayores complicaciones quirúrgicas.