skin grafts?

[nekhismom]

Hello all! I posted before about my brother with 2nd/3rd degree burns over about 8% of his chest. He is doing ok, but his physician still REFUSES to give him anything for pain other than the Lortab 7.5 mg. :angryfire: Now, the dr. is talking about skin grafting. Do any of you know if skin grafts are being made using one's own cells to grow a graft? (sorry, can't remember what that is called). The dr. says he doesn't know if they are done anymore, but he will check. He also says the grafting will be an outpatient procedure? Scary to me, but I don't know about burns. I can only imagine the pain my brother will be in, especially with pain control such as he has been having. I have heard that the areas used for skin grafting are often more painful than the burned area...is this true? Are there any less painful alternatives that you know of that are being used for grafts?

Thanks you all, you have been very helpful already!

[redwinggirlie]

try googling the genzyme company. That company uses the person's own skin to grow new skin. Works, too.

[peds4now, RN]

just another note of encouragement: advocate with your PCP and insurance and get transferred to a burn unit/center. 8% of body on the chest? 2nd to 3rd degree? May not need graft, autologous graft 100% doable! Don't even waste time with a doc who doesn't know what he's doing.