Abstract

Areas of full thickness skin loss, especially if more than a few square centimetres in area, can usually only be successfully treated by autografting. If this is not possible, because of the extent of skin loss, lack of necessary skills, or unsuitability of the graft bed for autografting, then temporary cover should be provided. Fresh, deep frozen or lyophilised human skin, and lyophilised pigskin have been used. Only the last of these is commercially available (Armour porcine skin). Corethium 1 (Ethicon) is probably similar, but as yet no data have been published on it.