• Epifast® showed high satisfaction and minimal complications in both age groups. • Flame burns predominated in adults, while scald burns were more common in children. • Epifast® showed effective results without infections. Burn injuries require comprehensive management, including wound care and skin substitutes, to promote healing and reduce complications. Epifast®, a cryopreserved allograft of human epidermal keratinocytes, has shown promise in various wound types but remains understudied in burn injuries. This study aims to describe the use of Epifast® in treating first- and second-degree burns across pediatric and adult populations. A retrospective case series was conducted at a single burn treatment center, including patients treated with Epifast® from January 2021 to December 2023. Patients were categorized as Pediatric (<18 years) or Adult. Data collected included patient demographics, burn characteristics (degree, etiology, affected regions), treatment parameters (timing, number of applications, hospital stay), and outcomes (satisfaction, presence of exudate, pigmentation, vascularity). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to compare outcomes between age groups. A total of 34 patients were included, with 26% pediatric and 74% adult. Second-degree burns were the most prevalent (74%), with a higher frequency in adults, while pediatric patients had more first- and second-degree burns combined (p = 0.034). Scald burns predominated in children (67%), while flame burns were more frequent in adults (80%, p = 0.005). Epifast® was well tolerated, requiring fewer than six days of applications for most patients and yielding high satisfaction rates (97%). There were no complications related to exudate, pigmentation, or vascularity, and all cultures were negative for infection. Epifast® demonstrated high tolerability, broad applicability, and consistent outcomes in burn patients. Advantages include simplified logistics and immediate availability. While promising, further prospective studies are needed to validate its effectiveness and establish standardized protocols for its use in burn care.
Castañeda-Rodríguez et al. (Sun,) studied this question.