Autologous Skin Cell Suspension Monotherapy Without Split-Thickness Skin Grafting for Deep Dermal Burns in Pediatric Patients: A Case Series

RECELL® autologous cell harvesting device (AVITA Medical, Inc., Santa Clarita, California, United States) is a non-cultured autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) device that rapidly processes a small sample of the patient's own skin into a cell suspension that can be sprayed onto large burn wounds. The ASCS system is considered to be effective for treating burns in children, especially because it minimizes new scars caused by skin harvesting; however, there are very few reports on ASCS monotherapy without autologous split-thickness skin grafting in patients under three years of age. This report describes three cases of deep dermal burn in patients under the age of three years treated with ASCS monotherapy. The cases highlight the advantages of ASCS monotherapy, including expedited healing, reduced burden of wound care, and minimized scarring from skin harvesting. In ASCS monotherapy, challenges remain, including the fragility of the engrafted cells, the small but unavoidable need for skin harvesting, postoperative scarring, and high treatment costs. This report highlights the need for ongoing accumulation of case studies to refine treatment protocols and emphasizes the importance of extended follow-up to evaluate long-term outcomes, including the impact of growth on scar formation.