Abstract
Artificial dermis (AD) is beneficial for the resurfacing of wounds. However, it has been used experimentally by surgeons without standardization. We studied clinical cases of AD to investigate its effective usage. A total of 120 patients with a wound were treated with AD in our medical center from 2006 through 2010. Their diagnoses included trauma (28%), anomaly (28%), neoplasm (14%), and burn (8%). AD can reduce the severity of Gustilo-AndersonⅢB or C to Gustilo-AndersonⅢA, which may allow resurfacing with a free skin graft. Even bone-exposing wound could be resurfaced, and showed less contraction after application onto the mucoperiosteal denuded hard palate. AD can protect the wound long enough to prevent the open wound from resurfacing immediately until secondary surgery can be performed after biopsy. Combination treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor and AD has been shown to prepare a wound bed suitable for free skin grafting, This method is straightforward, leads to minimal morbidity, and is thus useful for the treatment of all wounds including complex chronic ulcers.
