[Clinical trial: regeneration of skin perception after deep-degree burns in childhood].

BACKGROUND:  Cutaneous aesthesia is frequently impaired following thermal injury. The perception of pressure and touch is compromised.

METHODS:  We analysed 352 patient files retrospectively and tested the perception in deep burn-damaged skin of children. The skin regions examined were classified into groups according to treatment: group 1: necrosectomy + split-thickness skin graft; group 2: epifascial necrosectomy + split-thickness skin graft; group 3: epifascial necrosectomy + Integra®  + split- thickness skin graft. We used clinically adequate test procedures.

RESULTS:  31 children (3 to 16 years old) were included with a total of 228 areas of skin examined, 22 boys and 9 girls, mean total body surface area affected 17.6 %, mean age at time of accident 4.9 years. Perceived sensation in group 3: touching with sharp point = 34 out of 47 areas (6 patients), touching with blunt point = 47 out of 57 areas (6 patients), touching with soft tip = 37 out of 56 areas (7 patients), repositioning hair shafts = 9 out of 12 areas (4 patients), pressure of Frey hair = 40 out of 43 areas (7 patients). In group 1, differentiation of touch stimuli was possible in 7 out of 13 children (70 out of 94 skin areas). The simultaneous threshold was 1.8 cm (SD 1.4), compared with 1.2 cm (SD 1.1) in the control group. The successive threshold was 1.6 cm (SD 0.9) and 1.8 cm (SD 1.5) in the control group. In group 2, differentiation of touch stimuli was possible in 3 out of 6 children (27 out of 52 skin areas). The simultaneous threshold was 3.4 cm (SD 1.3) and 3.4 cm (SD 1.1) in the control group. The successive threshold was 2.4 (SD 1.0) and 1.7 (0.7) in the control group. One patient was examined in group 3. Differentiation of touch stimuli was possible in 4 out of 15 skin areas. The simultaneous threshold was 3.9 cm (SD 0.8) and 2.9 cm (SD 1.1) in the control group. The successive threshold was 2.7 (SD 1.4) and 2.1 (1.0) in the control group. In 93 % to 100 % of tested areas, vibration aesthesia was detectable. Vibration aesthesia did not differ between tune fork and biothesiometer. Four children with 11 different skin areas (group 3) were tested with sensory-evoked potentials. There was no significant difference between case group and control group.

CONCLUSION:  The sensory perception (receptors and nerve cells) of touch and pressure in deep burns suffered during childhood has an unexpected and high potential for regeneration.