Efficacy of tilapia skin xenograft compared to paraffin-impregnated gauze as a full-thickness burn dressing after excisional debridement: A case series

Use of Nile tilapia fish skin in treatment for burn victims

“…A case series, completed by Putri et al [18] , included 4 adults aged 23-48 years suffering from acute burns affecting 27.5%-37% of total body surface area and found the limbs treated with tilapia fish skin required less dressing changes when compared with paraffin-impregnated gauze. In addition, cross-linked decellularized tilapia skin was found to have both improved function, as well as a positive contribution to cell proliferation in a retrospective cohort study by Liu and colleagues.…”

“…Dressing changes are an essential component for successful wound healing. In a comparative case series study, Putri et al [18] studied the differences between tilapia skin xenograft and paraffin-impregnated gauze, leading to an average reduction of dressing changes of 3.72 and 8.67 for outpatients and inpatients, respectively.…”

“…May be a good alternative treatment option for superficial and partial-thickness burns. Future cohort studies with larger scopes warranted Putri et al, [18] Indonesia Case series 4 adults between the ages of 23 and 48 y with acute burns affecting 27.5%-37% of total body surface area Tilapia skin or paraffin-impregnated gauze The subject's limbs treated with tilapia skin displayed a reduction in the number of dressing changes required compared with those displayed the formation of an epidermal layer that closely resembled skin [20] .…”

“…This could be particularly beneficial in resource-poor third-world and war-torn countries, where cheaper and more compatible amputation and burn treatments could take root in health systems as a more viable option for both the patient, as well as the health care provider. Supporting the previously exposed decellularized tilapia fish skin with PRGF entails a novel cost-effective approach with a reduction in dressing changes, a key feature to scale-down medical cost-related expenses [18] . In addition, the use of fish skins could be expanded to use in firearms and explosive injuries due to their long storage life at normal room temperature and also the fact that associated fish skin-treated wounds do not require frequent repair and removal, which is an ideal property for battlefield wounds.…”

“…Equally important, the rich presence of collagen in tilapia graft provides an ideal environment under the wet wound healing theory; a moist wound environment gives a scaffold for tissue regeneration and cell migration [18] . Liu and colleagues demonstrated the presence of 2 components derived from tilapia piscidin TP2.…”