Spray-on Skin Lowers Louisiana Mortality Rates from Burns

Dr. Jeffrey Carter, associate professor of surgery at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, has spent over a decade developing a new technology for burn and wound care, known as spray-on skin. He is available for media interviews this week during National Burn Awareness Week.

Spray-on skin is created by taking a sample of a person's healthy skin, small as a thumbnail and thinner than a one-dollar bill and allowing enzymes to separate the top layer of the skin, the epidermis, from the layer underneath, the dermis. Between these layers are progenitor cells, a kind of stem cell that can replicate into different types of cells. When progenitor cells are put into a solution that's sprayed over open wounds or burns, they replicate quickly, creating new skin.

While burn surgeons used to have to rely on same-sized grafts—such as a piece of skin the size of a hand to heal a burn the size of a hand, 1:1 ratio, the new technology allows for a ratio closer to 1:80.

"Using [spray-on skin], we've been able to cut recovery times in half by accelerating healing and also reduce the hospital stay for all Louisiana burn patients by three days," Dr. Carter said. "This means less suffering, less risk for complications and infections, and significant savings for both the patients and the state—at least $9 million over three years."

Dr. Carter is also working with the Louisiana Department of Health on designing and delivering burn kits to first responders, so people with minor burns—including fire fighters—can get immediate treatment and avoid trips to emergency rooms and burn centers. The goal is to get burn victims faster and better care, but also increase disaster capacity and preparedness across the state.

Additional Link:

LSU Health New Orleans Surgeon Develops Spray-on Skin Technology for Burns, Wounds, Lowering Mortality Rate: https://www.lsu.edu/research/news/2022/0118-recell.php

Contact Alison Satake

LSU Media Relations
510-816-8161
asatake@lsu.edu

Leslie Capo

LSU Health New Orleans
lcapo@lsuhsc.edu

Provided by Louisiana State University