From cadaveric donation to cryopreserved total skin allografts: Transforming the Chilean skin donation model


Por: Fonseca, M, Cañete, A, Mandriaza, L, Gómez, J, Masiá, J, Marcelain, K, Ibaceta, D, Erazo, C, Gamez, B, Soto, C, Valdés, C

Publicada: 1 ago 2025 Ahead of Print: 1 jun 2025
Resumen:
Background: The clinical utility of skin allografts (SA) is well established. However, the donation and procurement of cadaveric skin-historically the primary source of SA-remain limited in many countries. A skin donation model based on the use of excess surgical tissue from body contouring procedures was introduced and compared with the traditional cadaveric donation model. Methods: A retrospective review of skin donations in Chile was conducted over two periods (2017-2019 and 2022-2024), analyzing the performance and characteristics of two donation pathways: cadaveric and living donors. Results: During the first period (2017-2019), four cadaveric donors provided a total of 10,959 cm2 of skin. In the second period (2022-2024), 353 donors contributed 153,585 cm2 of skin, of which 348 were living donors (131,997 cm2) and five were cadaveric (21,588 cm2). Conclusions: Initially conceived as a complementary strategy, the living donor model has evolved to become the primary source of skin allografts in Chile. This approach significantly increases the availability of SA, broadens therapeutic indications, and promotes the concept of transforming excess surgical tissue into valuable therapeutic resources. Moreover, it enables the production of cryopreserved full-thickness skin allografts (CTSA), which serve not only as temporary wound coverage but also as dermal regenerative scaffolds, particularly beneficial in the treatment of burns affecting functionally and aesthetically critical areas. This new paradigm supports a more accessible and sustainable culture of skin donation while offering promising benefits for regenerative burn care.

Filiaciones:
Fonseca, M:
 Tarapaca Skin & Tissue Bank, Iquique, Chile

 Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Cañete, A:
 Tarapaca Skin & Tissue Bank, Iquique, Chile

 Dr Ernesto Torres Galdames Hosp, Organ & Tissue Procurement & Transplantat Unit, Iquique, Chile

Mandriaza, L:
 Tarapaca Skin & Tissue Bank, Iquique, Chile

Gómez, J:
 Tarapaca Skin & Tissue Bank, Iquique, Chile

 Dr Ernesto Torres Galdames Hosp, Organ & Tissue Procurement & Transplantat Unit, Iquique, Chile

Masiá, J:
 Univ Autonoma Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

 Hosp Santa Creu & Sant Pau, Hosp del Mar, Dept Plast Surg, Barcelona, Spain

Marcelain, K:
 Univ Chile, Fac Med, Dept Basic Clin Oncol, Santiago, Chile

Ibaceta, D:
 Tarapaca Skin & Tissue Bank, Iquique, Chile

Erazo, C:
 Univ Desarrollo, Fac Med Clin Alemana, Santiago, Chile

 Univ Chile, Clin Hosp, Santiago, Chile

Gamez, B:
 Univ Chile, Clin Hosp, Santiago, Chile

Soto, C:
 Hosp Urgencia Asistencia Publ, Burn Unit, Santiago, Chile

Valdés, C:
 Hosp Urgencia Asistencia Publ, Burn Unit, Santiago, Chile
ISSN: 03054179





BURNS
Editorial
ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 125 London Wall, London, ENGLAND, Reino Unido
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 51 Número: 6
Páginas:
WOS Id: 001506351000002
ID de PubMed: 40480064
imagen Green Submitted

MÉTRICAS