OBJECTIVETo observe the effect and safety of autologous cultured skin fibroblasts transplantation for treating depressed facial skin defects.

METHODSA total of 19 patients were treated from Jan, 2010 to Oct, 2010. Autologous skin fibroblasts were separated from postauricular skin biopsy or resected skin tissue in other surgeries such as blepharoplasty. They were cultured and expanded with exclusive method. Cells (2 x 10(7)/ml) within three passages were injected intradermally at the site of skin depression three times at one-month interval. Adverse events were observed and recorded. Clinical effects were evaluated and graded by two unrelated physicians before and 6 months after the first injection.

RESULTSCells from 16 patients were successfully cultured at the first time. The other 3 patients underwent a second harvest. A total amount of 6 x 10(8) cells could be reached within three passages in 45 days. 16 out of 19 patients accomplished the whole course of this study. Minor adverse events were observed in two patients including small ulcer caused by over injection in one patient and slightly redness and swelling in the other. The redness disappeared after a week without any treatment. No serious complications were observed. Significant difference was noticed between the scores obtained before and after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONSFrom this study, neither serious complications nor excessive cell proliferation or scar formation was found after cell injection. The effect of using autologous fibroblast transplantation was obvious and long-lasting, which provides a new choice for the treatment of depressed facial skin defects.