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ReCell in Burn Care and Beyond: A Systematic Review
Kian Daneshi, Sarah Tepe, Jose Antonio Arellano, Hilary Liu, Francesco Egro
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Plastic Surgery
2025-01-09
Presenter: Jose Antonio Arellano
Affidavit:
This work represents the efforts of the presenter.
Director Name: Francesco Egro
Author Category: Fellow Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
Background
ReCell is an autologous cell harvesting device designed to promote skin regeneration by applying a suspension of a patients own skin cells to wounds. Primarily used in burn care, it has shown potential benefits in wound healing, scar reduction, and improved patient satisfaction. Although ReCell has demonstrated promising outcomes in terms of faster healing, the influence of individual patient and wound characteristics on treatment success remains underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and patient-reported outcomes associated with ReCell through a review and meta-analysis.
Methods
A systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted in October 2024, utilizing four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane. A protocol was pre-registered (CRD42024606554). The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the ROBINS-I tool were used to evaluate the risk of bias in randomized studies and observational studies. Methodological quality was appraised using the GRADE framework.
Results
Out of 760 initially identified studies, 14 met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 969 patients (678 males, 290 females) with a mean age of 39.44 � 15.19 years. Second-degree burns were the most frequently studied (n = 6). ReCell-treated patients exhibited a shorter average healing time (13.94 � 3.3 days) compared to standard care (19.75 � 7.53 days). However, they experienced longer hospital stays (20.62 � 8.94 days vs. 15.25 � 12.77 days), suggesting a trade-off between faster healing and hospitalization duration.
Conclusion
While ReCell accelerates wound healing, the associated longer hospital stay highlights the need for further research to fully assess its clinical and practical benefits in burn treatment.
