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Centre for Tissue Engineering
PRESS RELEASE

DATE: 30 July 2018

SUBJECT: DONOR SKIN SAVE BURN VICTIMS’ LIVES

Without the availability of donor skin, South African burn victims face
certain death.

At a recent Cape Town based transplant forum meeting, a presentation by Dr Roux Martinez of the
Red Cross War Memorial Hospital revealed the overwhelming success in the use of donor skin in the
treatment of burn victims. Since the inception of the skin banking activities of the Tshwane University
of Technology’s Centre for Tissue Engineering (CTE) in 2016, many lives have been saved through the
use of donor skin. In her presentation, Dr Martinez pointed out the successful treatment of 48 patients
who suffered an average of 60% burns over their bodies.

The world average of deaths due to burns is 5 in 100 000; however, in South Africa that number is 8.5
in 100 000. While 1.6 million South Africans suffer burn wounds a year, 268 severe cases are reported
every month. Every year, during winter, shack fires and even veld fires in rural areas cause the death
of many people – especially children. These deaths occur, not only because of the severity of the
burns, but because there are no effective, affordable synthetic treatment options available to patients
in state hospitals.

The best solution to this problem is cadaveric human skin. Only a few strips from the very top layer of
skin can be procured from organ and tissue donors and used very effectively on burn victims.

According to Martinez, the treatment of burns with cadaveric skin, has a number of advantages for
the recipient:

• Allows for early excision and immediate cover;
• Reduces fluid and heat loss;
• Protects against bacteria, fungi and viruses;
• Allow any superficial areas to rapidly heal;
• Allow cover with time to catch up with nutrition, treat infection, get biochemistry
under control;
• Prepares the wound bed for grafting with own skin; and
• Generally brings about a dramatic improvement in overall well-being.

The treatment process is far less traumatic and painful than treatment with synthetic dressings, less
scaring occurs and the cost saving is immense.
However, the biggest challenge in providing skin in adequate quantities, remains the shortage of organ
and tissue donors. Every person in South Africa could make a difference, and we appeal to the public
to make a decision in favour of donation after their own death.

Through their collaboration with the Organ Donor Foundation, the CTE is committed to donor
awareness and education of the public on organ and tissue donation.