17.  Tell us about Biobrane and Alloderm.

Answer:
Biobrane is composed of nylon mesh that is bonded to a thin silicone rubber membrane.  It has been used as a temporary skin replacement with moderate success.  The membrane provides a barrier against water-vapor transmission from the wound and against bacterial invasion from the environment.  Fibrovascular ingrowth from the wound bed is not well induced by Biobrane compared to cadaver skin grafts, and as a result it has not been universally accepted as a temporary skin replacement after burn excision.

Alloderm is a dermal replacement composed of modified cadaver skin which has had the epidermal layer removed and the remaining dermal layer is sterilized, made acellular, and cryogenically preserved.  The basement membrane is left intact and this helps Alloderm to allow epidermal growth to occur from overlaid autografts.
 

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