In the management of extensive burns, cadaveric split-thickness skin allograft is applied to a large excised wound as a temporary biological dressing. What is the expected fate of this allograft?

• A It takes permanently and integrates without immunosuppression
• B It induces permanent tolerance to subsequent autografts from unrelated donors
• C It acts purely as a passive non-viable dressing and never vascularises
• D It vascularises initially and is rejected within 2 to 3 weeks, requiring replacement or autografting ✓

Explanation

Cadaveric allograft skin does vascularise and provide excellent temporary cover, buying time in massive burns, but being foreign tissue it triggers cell-mediated rejection and sloughs off within about 2 to 3 weeks unless immunosuppression is given. This distinguishes it from xenograft (porcine) skin and synthetic dressings. Its value lies in temporary barrier function, fluid loss reduction, and preparation of the bed for definitive autografting.

Reference: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 21st ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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