Using Fat and Skin Grafting to Treat Burn and Trauma-Related Scar Contractures Comparing Fat-Based Composite Grafting to Traditional Full-Thickness Skin Grafts For Delayed Reconstruction of Injured Skin

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate if an adipose-based therapeutic strategy can effectively treat contracted scars caused by soft-tissue burn wounds or trauma, particularly in individuals with severe burns or tissue loss. The study focuses on comparing autologous layered composite grafting to traditional full-thickness skin grafting for delayed reconstruction of scar contractures after burns or trauma. The goal is to see whether the fat-based method can match or outperform standard treatments in healing, reducing scarring, and lowering infection risk. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive the traditional full-thickness skin graft FTSG following standard scar release and wound bed preparation. The other group will undergo autologous layered composite grafting, which involves harvesting fat through minimally invasive liposuction and applying it directly to the wound base, followed by a split-thickness skin graft placed over the fat layer. Both treatments are delivered in a single-stage surgery for reconstruction of defects in the face, neck, or extremities. During the study, participants will be monitored from the time of surgery through a 9-month follow-up. Researchers will assess changes in scar contracture by measuring scar surface area and evaluate safety through the incidence of treatment-related adverse events. Additional assessments will include scar quality using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, graft success, healing time, tissue thickness, pliability, and mobility. The study aims to provide detailed information on healing outcomes and graft effectiveness over this period.

Autologous Point-of-Care Adipose Therapy: Delayed Injury/Scar