RESUMEN
Autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) is an adjunct to conventional split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) for acute burns, enhancing healing and reducing donor site requirements. This study validates ASCS's predictive benefits in hospital stay reduction and cost savings by analyzing outcomes and real-world charges post-ASCS implementation at a single institution. A retrospective study (2018-2022) included burn patients with ≥10% TBSA. The study population comprised two groups: burns treated either with a combination of ASCS ± STSG or with STSG alone. Outcomes included LOS, surgeries, infection, complications, days on antibiotics, and adjusted charge per TBSA. The ASCS ± STSG group demonstrated significantly shorter LOS (Mdn: 16.0 days, IQR: 10-26) than the STSG group (Mdn: 20.0 days, IQR: 14-36; P = 0.017), and fewer surgeries (Mdn: 1.0, IQR: 1-2) versus the STSG group (Mdn: 1.0, IQR: 1-4; P = 0.020). Postoperative complications were significantly lower in ASCS ± STSG (11% vs. 36%; P < 0.001). The STSG group had a longer distribution of antibiotic days (IQR: 0-7.0, min-max: 0-76) than the ASCS ± STSG group (IQR: 0-0, min-max: 0-37; P = 0.014). Wound infection incidence did not differ (P = 0.843). ASCS ± STSG showed a lower distribution of adjusted charge per TBSA (IQR: $10,788.5 - $28,332.6) compared to the STSG group (IQR: $12,336.8 - $29,507.3; P = 0.602) with a lower mean adjusted charge per TBSA ($20,995.0 vs. $24,882.3), although this was not statistically significant. ASCS ± STSG utilization demonstrated significant reductions in LOS, surgeries, postoperative complications, antibiotics, and potential cost savings. These findings underscore the practicality of integrating ASCS in burn management, offering substantial benefits to patients and healthcare institutions.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Contact layer dressing (CLD) is standard after autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS); however, the authors wondered whether a poly-lactic acid dressing (PLAD) results in superior outcomes and cost savings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including greater than 10% total body surface area (TBSA) burns treated with ASCS and either PLAD or CLD. Primary outcomes were infection and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: 71 patients (76% male, 24% pediatric, mean age 37 years) were included. Twenty-eight patients (39%) received CLD and 43 (61%) received PLAD. Wound infections were decreased in PLAD (7 vs 32%, p = 0.009). When controlling for area grafted (cm2) and TBSA, logistic regression revealed odds of post-operative infection was 8.1 times higher in CLD (p = 0.015). PLAD required antibiotics for fewer days (mean 0.47 vs 4.39, p = 0.0074) and shorter LOS (mean 17 vs 29 days, p < 0.001). Mean adjusted charges per %TBSA was $18,459 in PLAD vs. $25,397 in CLD (p = 0.0621). CONCLUSION: In the first analysis of its kind, this study showed polylactic acid dressing combined with autologous skin cell suspension led to a decrease in postoperative infections, length of hospital stay, and total patient charges.