OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of acellular tissue engineering dermal matrix (ATDM) in repairing wounds of skin graft donor site.

METHODSSixty patients with burn or chronic wounds hospitalized from January 2011 to April 2012 received autologous skin grafting. One wound [with size larger than 55 cm(2), and thickness of (0.33 ± 0.03) mm] out of multiple skin graft donor sites of every patient was selected, and it was divided into two parts in accordance with self-control principle. A part of wound close to the wound edge with diameter of 5 cm was taken as trial area (treated with ATDM), and the remaining wound was taken as control area (treated with vaseline gauze) according to the random number table. Blood and urine routine, liver and kidney function, and levels of IgG and IgM in blood of patients were measured one day before operation and on the 1st day after wound healing. Vital signs of patients were recorded on the operation day and the wound healing day. Gross condition of the wounds was observed during dressing change. Wound healing time was recorded. The healed wound was observed histologically. Data were processed with Log rank test or t test.

RESULTSLeucocyte count was lowered on the 1st day after wound healing [(7.1 ± 1.2)×10(9)/L] as compared with that one day before operation [(10.1 ± 1.5)×10(9)/L, t = -12.10, P < 0.01]. The differences were not statistically significant in red blood cell count, haemoglobin level, platelet count, urine routine, levels of indexes of liver and kidney function, levels of IgG and IgM in blood between one day before operation and the 1st day after wound healing, or in vital signs (including body temperature, pulse, respiration, systolic pressure, and diastolic pressure) between the operation day and the wound healing day (with t values from -1.43 to 1.88, P values all above 0.05). No adverse effects such as abnormal exudation, itching, redness and swelling, and exanthema were observed in the wound. The median wound healing time in trial area was 12 d (95% confidence interval: 11 - 13 d), which was significantly shorter than that in control area [17 d (95% confidence interval: 16 - 18 d), χ(2) = 24.9, P < 0.01]. The healed wound of trial area was closer to the normal skin than that of control area in the shape and distribution of Fb and vascular endothelial cell, and the shape of the basilar membrane and the epidermal layer.

CONCLUSIONSATDM can accelerate healing of wound of skin graft donor site, and no adverse reactions were observed.