Hippokratia 2000, 4(3):99-104
I. Frangou, K. Manos, V. Lambropoulos, Ch. Kasselas, A. Philalithis, Ch. Chaidos, M. Papoutsakis, M. Tamiolaki, V. Kasselas
Abstract
Integra Artificial Skin (I.A.S.) was first introduced by Burke and Yannas in 1981 and it is a permanent dermal regeneration template. Integra is a natural material consisting of a net of bovine tendon collagen fibers and chondroitin -6- sulfate from sharks, covered by a solid silicone sheet. It was used, on a 6 months old infant, suffering from full thickness burn in face, left hand and part of thumb and index finger of the right hand, in the Pediatric Surgery Unit of Hippocratio General Hosp. of Thessaloniki, Greece. This was the first time Integra was applied in a child in Greece. On the third postburn week the burned areas were debrided and covered with Integra Artificial Skin. Four weeks later, when dermal regeneration occurred, the silicone sheet was easily removed and the neodermis was skin-grafted with autologous extremely thin skin grafts, taken from both feet. There was a 100% take of Integra and skin grafts, although there was a high risk of infection because of delay. Recovery was uncomplicated. The purpose of this study is to analyze the technique of Integra application, and its perspective and to review the literature.