Aust burns expert helps Greek fire victims

A world-renowned Adelaide plastic surgeon will fly to Greece on Friday to treat victims of deadly wildfires with Australian-developed skin repair technology.

Dr John Greenwood will assist Greek surgeons with the 10 most severely burned patients from the fires near Athens that have taken more than 80 lives and injured many more.

He will begin work on Sunday at the KAT Hospital in Athens using a biodegradable skin graft substitution he pioneered with the CSIRO after the Bali bombings in 2002.

Dr Greenwood is director of the Adult Burns Unit at Royal Adelaide Hospital and was 2016 SA Australian of the Year for his world-leading work in burns treatment.

The skin graft product, called NovoSorb, made by Melbourne-based company Polynovo, acts as a dermal tissue scaffold allowing new dermal cells, blood vessels and skin structures to develop, leaving soft, supple skin with minimal scarring.

The product is considered a game-changer for burns treatment.