Safe and Effective use of a new decellularized human skin allograft in neonatal and pediatric patients

Wound management in neonatal and pediatric patients poses multiple challenges to the wound care provider. Safety and efficacy are two significant barriers when addressing the wound care needs in this fragile population. In this case series, pediatric patients ranging from premature neonates to a teen paraplegic patient presented to our practice for management of severe full thickness wounds of various etiologies.

A new decellularized human skin allograft was applied to these wounds to determine safety and efficacy towards granulation and closure of the complex wounds. The allograft replaces human dermis with human dermis, to most closely approximate the structure and function of the native tissue it is replacing. It is NOT derived from fetal foreskin fibroblasts, bovine collagen, urinary bladders or placentas. Rather than providing a sacrificial collagen, the allograft provides a receptive matrix that becomes integrated into the host tissue. In each case, following effective debridement of nonviable tissue, the allograft was applied to the a clean wound bed without the need for surgical services or general anesthesia. The dressing was left in place as per manufacturer’s recommendations with regular monitoring to assess for side effects or complications. In each case all wounds were effectively closed and epithelialized following application of the allograft. No signs of tissue rejection, infection or other localized wound complications were encountered.

This case series illustrates the safe and effective use of a new decellularized human allograft for wound closure in neonatal and pediatric patients.