Perilesional injections of autologous fat graft in burn healing

Introduction: Burns are devastating injuries and the appearance of hypertrophic scars is a frequent complication. The classic treatment of dermal burns offers unaesthetic results in healing; however, the literature reports that autologous fat grafts favor revascularization, epithelialization, and aesthetic improvement. Objective: To determine the results of the application of perilesional injections of autologous fat graft in patients with dermal burns. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was performed, without randomization. A non-probabilistic test was used and the sample was made up of 40 patients in 2 groups: Group I with 20 subjects who underwent injections of autologous fat and the classic burn cure and in Group II 20 subjects with only the classic burn cure. The variables mean epithelialization time, presence of unsightly scars, appearance of keloids and hypertrophic scars were evaluated. Results: The patients in group I, with injections of fat graft, had a mean epithelialization time of 10 days less than the 14 days in group II. In addition, less unsightly scars appeared and a lower tendency to the appearance of keloids and hypertrophic scars. Finally, the patients in the group had a lower score on the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) scale. Conclusions: Perilesional autologous fat graft injections reduce the appearance of unsightly scars, decreasing epithelialization time and improving the vascularization, pigmentation, thickness, relief, elasticity and surface of the scar.