From skin expansion to regenerative therapy, all options on the table
The Crans-Montana tragedy has left a very serious toll among the young people involved. For six Italian boys, currently hospitalized in intensive care at the Niguarda hospital in Milan, the priority remains the management of the most critical phase through interventions aimed at stabilizing general conditionslimit the progression of the damage, prevent decompensation and systemic infections. Once the emergency phase has been overcome, however, a long therapeutic journey awaits all 14 Italian patients, 11 hospitalized in Milan and 3 in Zurich. Fromskin expansion at the regenerative surgeryuntil skin transplanthere are the techniques and treatments available.
Skin expansion for burn victims in Crans-Montana
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To counteract the reduction of mobility of arms, legs and fingers, one of the options available is theskin expansion. The intervention involves the insertion of silicone expanders under healthy skinnear the damaged areas. The progressive relaxation of the tissues allows for get new skinwhich is then used to replace the damaged one. This is a strategy that aims to reconstruct skin surfaces compatible with movements and reduce rigidity that can compromise patients’ future autonomy.
Regenerative surgery
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There regenerative surgery it is a branch that aims to restore elasticity and mobility to compromised tissues. We start from the collection of stem cells directly from the patient’s adipose tissue, which they are then transplanted onto the scar tissue to encourage it regeneration. This technique is becoming increasingly widespread, also thanks to the very favorable relationship between costs and benefits. In some clinical contexts, it is also used compression girdlesdesigned for exercise constant pressure on the skin.
Skin transplant
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When the clinical picture is critical, doctors can evaluate the use of skin transplant. During the acute phase, especially for life-threatening patients, it is sometimes used artificial skin or tissue from a deceased donor with the aim of temporarily covering the injuries and stabilizing the patient. Only at a later time, when the vital parameters allow it, do we proceed with the autologous transplantthat is, with the removal of healthy skin from the subject himself to permanently cover the damaged areas.
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