Treatment of burns using cadaver skin: an integrative review

Abstract

Burns are injuries that disrupt the layers of the skin, varying in degrees of depth. Due to their high prevalence in the population, these injuries represent a public health problem, associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. In this context, the exploration of therapeutic strategies, especially those of a temporary nature that protect the wound bed and improve patient prognosis, becomes essential. The present study aims to conduct an integrative literature review on the use of cadaver skin in the treatment of burns, with the objective of analyzing the clinical benefits of allografts. For this purpose, a search was carried out in databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and SciELO, using “burns,” “skin graft,” and “skin allograft” as keywords, translated into English and Spanish. Studies published between 2020 and 2026, in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, were included, encompassing different types of studies. After careful analysis, 10 articles were considered eligible to be included in the integrative review. The results showed that the use of skin allografts is associated with a reduction in fluid and electrolyte loss from the wound bed, increasing protection against infections and providing a more favorable environment for definitive grafting. In addition, positive impacts on the morbidity and mortality of burn patients were observed, along with associated aesthetic benefits. It is concluded that skin allografts constitute an important tool in the management of patients with extensive burns, contributing to clinical stabilization and to the preparation of the wound bed for definitive treatment.