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Introduction
Burn injury is a major public health issue, due to the worldwide annual occurrence of 11 million cases that cause more than 300,000 fatalities.1,2 Research indicates burn injuries should be classified as chronic diseases because their effects on the immune system probably cause long-term morbidity.3 Up to three months of hospitalization, along with permanent deformities and disability, result from the survival of nonfatal burn injuries, according to research.4 Wound management that starts soon after injury with debridement and autografting acts as standard medical practice since it minimizes the risk for sepsis along with organ dysfunction. The shortage of available autologous skin when treating extensive burns forces surgeons to select either allogeneic or xenogeneic grafts as interim dressings after performing surgical debridement. The most common origin for these short-term grafts comes from human deceased donors and porcine skin materials.5 The application of both dead human grafts and pig material poses risks for the body to reject the grafts and the transmission of infectious diseases. The prohibition against porcine grafts exists in Muslim communities due to cultural as well as religious beliefs.5,6
History of Burns
Historical records show burn injuries have tortured human beings across multiple generations of recorded history. Archaeological records show that ancient Egypt documented the use of mud and excrement together with oil and plant extracts, as well as other substances, for treating burns, as shown in the Ebers Papyrus written around 1500 BC. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates championed the use of dressings containing pig fat along with resin and bitumen.7 During medieval times, medical interventions relied primarily on experience-based methods. Upon its arrival, the Renaissance brought back abandoned scientific investigation methods. In 1517-1588, Italian surgeon Leonardo Fioravanti achieved nose reattachment through the use of “balsama artificiato,” a pharmaceutical solution. The anecdote demonstrates medieval restoration attempts of burned tissues, which preceded contemporary grafting methods.8 The Rialto fire of 1921 and the Coconut Grove nightclub fire of 1942 resulted in crucial progress for burn management, which became instrumental in defining contemporary perspectives on fire burn pathophysiology.9Burn care has gained remarkable speed during the past five decades through advancements like antimicrobial wound coverings and fluid treatment protocols, and early surgical procedures with artificial skin substitute development.