Study With an Autologous Dermo-epidermal Skin Substitute for the Treatment of Full-Thickness Skin Defects in Adults and Children

This multicentre phase II clinical trial will target adults and children with fullt-thickness skin defects to elucidate the benefit of a tissue-engineered autologous skin substitute. Particular emphasis, apart from safety, will be placed on efficacy, e.g. scar quality, in comparison to meshed STSG.

Inclusion criteria

• Age: ≥1 years of age
• Large full-thickness defects that require coverage after excision of: Scars, Benign skin tumors (e.g. neurofibroma), Melanocytic nevus (e.g. giant nevus), Gender reassignment surgery, Soft tissue defect after trauma, Soft tissue defect after infection and debridement (e.g necrotizingn fascitis, hidadentitis suppurativa, purpura fulminans), Flap donorsite (e.g. radial forearm flap)
• Minimal areas requiring coverage (not counting the head and neck area for study patients in The Netherlands): 1-5 years: minimum 9cm2, 6-16 years: minimum 25cm2, >16 years: minimum 45cm2
• Signed Informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Patients tested positive for HBV, HCV, syphilis or HIV
• Patients with known underlying or concomitant medical conditions that may interfere with normal wound healing (e.g. systemic skin and connective tissue diseases, any kind of congenital defect of metabolism including insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, Cushing syndrome or disease, scurvy, chronic hypothyroidism, congenital or acquired immunosuppressive condition, chronic renal failure, or chronic hepatic dysfunction (Child-Pugh class B or C), severe malnutrition, or other concomitant illness which, in the opinion of the Investigator, has the potential to significantly delay wound healing)
• Severe drug and alcohol abuse
• Pre-existing coagulation disorders as defined by INR outside its normal value, PTT >ULN and fibrinogen <LLN prior to the current hospital admission and / or at the Investigator's discretion
• Patients with known allergies to amphotericin B, gentamicin, penicillin, streptomycin, or bovine collagen
• Previous enrolment of the patient into the current phase II study
• Participation of the patient in another study with conflicting endpoints within 30 days preceding and during the present study
• Patients expected not to comply with the study protocol (including patients with severe cognitive dysfunction/impairment and severe psychiatric disorders)
• Pregnant or breast feeding females
• Intention to become pregnant during the clinical course of the study (12 months)
• Enrolment of the Investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons