OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of mixed grafting of autologous and allogeneic microskin on burn wound healing.

METHODSAutologous microskin grafting (expansion rate 5:1) was employed as control. Autologous microskin mixed with the allogeneic microskin with the thickness of 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm, respectively, were designated as experimental groups 1 and 2 (EP1 and EP2). The wound healing rate, wound contraction rate, and histological changes were observed on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks after the grafting.

RESULTSThe wound healing rate in two experimental groups (94.58 +/- 3.99)% in EP1, and (95.28 +/- 1.93)% in EP2 was significantly higher than that in the control group (88.28 +/- 6.85)% at the end of the 2nd week after the grafting (P < 0.05) The wound healing rate in experimental group 2 (94.55 +/- 3.47)% was obviously higher than that in control (88.51 +/- 5.59)% and experimental group 1 (89.51 +/- 4.70)% at the end of the 3rd week after grafting (P < 0.05). There was no obvious difference in wound healing rate among the three groups at the end of the 4th week after grafting. Obvious lymphocytic infiltration was observed by histological examination between epidermis and dermis in the two experimental groups at the end of the 2nd week after grafting. But there was no obvious difference among the three groups 4 weeks after grafting.

CONCLUSIONThe wound healing could be improved by mixed skin grafting with appropriate quantity of allogeneic and autologous microskin. Furthermore, the wound contraction could be ameliorated if the thickness of allogeneic dermis was increased in the mixed grafting even with the same proportion of allogeneic to autologous microskin.