Abstract
Wound contraction as a result of a delay in grafting or second intention healing in an area that there was no graft take is a serious problem because of the sequela to the burned patient.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the contraction of the cultured keratinocytes and human acellular dermis composite graft by tracing the graft with transparent film after transplantation to the back of athymic mice.
The evaluation of the contraction of the composite skin grafts and autografts in relation to the original wound area on the back of the athymic mice demonstrated greater contraction of the grafts after the dressings were removed on the seventh day. The composite skin graft contraction was significantly bigger than the autograft contraction.
The experimental data suggested that the contraction appeared after dressing removal, but that the macroscopic aspect of the composite skin graft remained normal with no distortion of the graft or the surrounded murine skin.
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