Reepithelialization of a Full-Thickness Burn from Stem Cells of Hair Follicles Micrografted into a Tissue-Engineered Dermal Template (Integra)

In a study from 2004, a 26-year-old male patient with a 12 percent full-thickness burn on his scalp was treated using a novel approach that involved micrografting autogenous hair follicles into a tissue-engineered dermal template (Integra) after excision of the burn. Over 700 single follicle micrografts were implanted into the vascularized neodermis of the Integra template. By day 16 post-micrografting, epithelialization was observed extending from the transplanted follicles, and by day 37, complete wound closure was achieved, although a superficial infection occurred. The procedure resulted in reepithelialization and hair growth without the need for a split-thickness skin graft. Histologic analysis confirmed the maturation of a normal skin type over the subsequent 2 years. Despite the time-consuming nature of the procedure and the requirement for a hairy donor site, the treatment successfully restored the stem cell population and achieved earlier reepithelialization.