Single-Stage Integra Reconstruction in Burns

Integra®, a synthetic dermal substitute, has been utilized in burn care for decades. Typically, 10-14 days after Integra® placement, a patient returns to the operating room, the top silastic layer of the Integra® is removed, and an autograft - a split-thickness skin graft harvested from the patient - is applied directly on top of the incorporated Integra®. The result is regarded to be a cosmetically and functionally superior result to that which would have been obtained had the wound bed itself been autografted at the time of excision, as opposed to being covered by Integra® and autografted during a second operation. Integra® use in single-stage procedures to cover defects without grafting has shown benefit when defects are fairly small, e.g. fingertip injuries, and small head and neck skin cancer resections. While single-stage reconstruction with Integra® has been demonstrated with standard thickness Integra®, this decreased thickness would increase the likelihood of graft survival due to the decreased distance of nutrient diffusion.