Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Updated : June 8, 2014 4:52 PM IST
Steam inhalation is one of the most preferred home remedies for common cold. But for one year old Pranaya, the remedy turned into a nightmare. In 2007, the little girl got her face burnt by the steamer pot accidentally. She was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital but unfortunately she did not receive optimum treatment. She had suffered 18 percent burns.
Soon after that Pranaya underwent skin grafting surgery, a standard treatment to treat burn injuries. During the surgery, skin obtained from another part of the body is used to cover the burnt area where the skin is missing. A skin graft is required when the area of skin loss is large enough to be closed using local skin and surgical stitches. However the grafted areas look like patchwork, and may be depressing for the sufferer to look at. The grafted skin never looks similar to the original skin but the appearance improves with time.
In all, Pranaya underwent 4 skin grafting surgeries. And, soon after the tedious surgeries, Pranaya developed complications. She found it difficult to eat or breathe as she could not open her mouth completely. Her parents consulted several doctors but none of them guaranteed 100 percent results. Finally they got in touch with Dr Ajit Kadam, aesthetic and burn surgeon, Sterling Wockhardt Hospital. He suggested Pranaya's parents to consider stem cell treatment (SCT). And today, after one month of treatment, Pranaya has shown significant improvement in her condition. We spoke to Dr Kadam to understand the details about the case and the scope of stem cells in burn victims.
When is stem cell transplant implicated for burn injuries? What kind of burn patients can be treated with the therapy?
Dr Kadam: Stem cell treatment can be done in all type of burn injuries. The treatment can be started as soon as the patient is stable after suffering the burn shock. Like Pranaya's case, the treatment can be used in patients who have undergone skin grafting surgery and are facing problems like contraction of skin. For Pranaya, we had to first remove her grafted skin completely before starting the treatment.
Can you briefly explain the procedure?
Dr Kadam: Stem cells are cells that have the capacity to renew themselves as well as differentiate into cells with a specialized function. To start with the treatment, we need blood sample or fat tissue (adipose tissue) of the patient to extract and grow mesenchymal stem cells. The sample is sent to the laboratory where stem cells are separated and then given back. These stem cells are then directly put on the burnt area and covered with collagen that forms a structural scaffold for the cells allowing them to form a new skin layer. Within a few weeks these stem cells grow and differentiate to form skin cells and tissue that looks exactly similar to your existing skin layer.
How can patients benefit from the therapy?
Dr Kadam: Burn victims go through a lot of pain and even after that the stress and frustration they have to go through during the healing process cannot be explained. Most of the times, even after multiple surgeries patients are not happy with the final outcome. Such patients can benefit from stem cell treatment because it overcomes the biggest disadvantage of skin grafting surgery.
What happens is once the skin is grafted it may look normal, but after 6 months contractures start developing on the skin. The skin contracts and makes it appear worse. Further, the area where the skin is grafted loses its functionality. In Pranaya's case also it happened. Due to contracture bands, she could barely open her mouth or even breathe. But stem cells work on their own to regenerate new skin layer. Therefore, there would be no scars left. In fact, we treated a patient, who had his face burnt fully, only with stem cells in 2007. Today, when people look at him then find it hard to believe that he had his full face burnt. So basically, the treatment restores your previous appearance to a great extent. Plus, there are no complications involved. The new skin you get will last forever. The treatment does not require prolonged hospitalization either.
Are there any risks and challenges associated with the treatment?
Dr Kadam: Not at all. Since the skin that is grown is not artificial like graft surgeries, there is no risk at all. Also, the treatment requires the patient's blood so there are no roadblocks in the treatment as such.
What is cost involved?
Dr Kadam: The laboratory cost of extraction of stem cells is about 30,000 rupees. But the total cost of treatment varies with the percent of burn suffered by the patient. The total cost of hospitalization, including dressing and SCT treatment would be near 6-7 lakhs.
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