NEWS – The Indian Army has recently launched a skin bank facility

OVERVIEW:

• Launched to treat severe skin burn injuries and other skin-related conditions for service personnel and their families.
• First-of-its-kind facility in Armed Forces Medical Services with specialized staff.
• Centralized hub for collection, processing, storage, and distribution of skin grafts.
• Staffed with trained medical professionals including plastic surgeons, tissue engineers, and technicians.

WHAT IS A SKIN BANK?

Definition:

• Facility where skin from eligible donors is collected, processed, and stored for medical use.
• Vital for treating burn victims and other severe skin conditions.

Donation Process:

• Skin can be donated within six hours of death.
• Donors must be at least 18 years old, irrespective of sex or blood group.
• Exclusions: AIDS, Hepatitis B & C, STDs, Skin Cancer, Active skin Disease, and Septicemia.

Preservation:

• Skin is processed over 5-6 weeks and stored in 85% glycerol solution at 4-5 degrees Celsius for up to 5 years.

SKIN GRAFTING PROCEDURE:

Definition:

• Surgical procedure transplanting healthy skin to damaged areas.
• Two types: autograft (patient’s own skin) and allograft (from a donor or skin bank).

Application:

• Used in treating burn victims and patients with severe skin injuries.
• Determines skin acceptance within 2-3 weeks post-grafting.