A randomized controlled trial conducted at multiple burn centers compared a graft made from minimally processed Atlantic cod skin with the standard synthetic dressing used to prepare severe burn wounds for autograft surgery.
The study enrolled patients with deep partial-thickness or full-thickness burns covering up to 30 percent of total body surface area.
Participants were randomly assigned to receive either the cod-skin product or the conventional synthetic dressing as a temporary wound cover before definitive skin grafting.
Researchers measured the time required for the wound bed to become ready for autografting, as well as rates of infection, graft take, and adverse events.
The cod-skin group reached grafting readiness significantly faster than the synthetic-dressing group, with a median reduction of several days in the preparation period.
Infection rates and graft-take percentages were comparable between the two arms, and no serious adverse events were attributed to the fish-skin product.
The investigators noted that the cod skin undergoes minimal processing to preserve its native collagen structure and omega-3 fatty acids, which may contribute to the observed healing effect.
Further studies are planned to evaluate the product in larger populations and across a broader range of burn severities.
Burns improve more rapidly after treatment with fish skin
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