Name
#56 The utility of Fish skin in treating war wounds
Speakers
Content Presented on Behalf of
International Delegates
Services/Agencies represented
International/Non-US Delegate
Session Type
Posters
Room#/Location
Prince Georges Exhibit Hall A/B
Focus Areas/Topics
Clinical Care
Learning Outcomes
Following this session, the attendee will be able to:
1. Understand the difficulties faced by surgeons treating large numbers of blast and burn injuries.
2. Understand the properties of fish skin.
3. Appreciate the advantages the use of fish skin gives the surgeon the combat setting.
1. Understand the difficulties faced by surgeons treating large numbers of blast and burn injuries.
2. Understand the properties of fish skin.
3. Appreciate the advantages the use of fish skin gives the surgeon the combat setting.
Session Currently Live
Description
Fish skin has been shown to be of use in treating both blast injury and burns obtained in war zones. The author will share his experience from working in the Burns Unit in Kyiv, Ukraine as well as other conflicts. Fish skin is 'off the shelf', requiring no refrigeration and is therefore much more suitable as a skin substitute than other devices such as allograft. In treating combat injuries it has been shown to improve the wound bed prior to skin grafting and to reduce the complexity of the reconstruction required. It was used for the first time in the war in Ukraine in Kyiv in 2024.