Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Burns.

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has become a widely used treatment for acute and chronic wounds. NPWT is indicated for a variety of complex wounds, and some studies validate its use for certain aspects of burn care. Although further research is needed to explore the benefits for burns, NPWT has proven beneficial in its use as a dressing that bolsters skin grafts, promotes integration of bilaminate dermal substitutes, promotes re-epithelialization of skin graft donor sites, and potentially reduces the zone of stasis.

Skin Substitutes and Bioscaffolds: Temporary and Permanent Coverage.

Advancements in surgical wound treatment have led to skin substitutes and bioscaffolds as temporary and permanent coverage for burn wounds. Skin substitutes are used to improve wound coverage and restore the functional and aesthetic qualities of skin, and help to prevent wound infection and maintain a moist wound healing environment. Although allografts are preferred when autografts are not possible, high costs and limited availability have led to the use of xenografts and the development of skin substitutes and bioscaffolds.