Artificial dermis as an alternative for coverage of complex scalp defects following excision of malignant tumors.
BACKGROUND
Artificial dermis has been used successfully for coverage of full-thickness wounds with a well-vascularized surgical bed. However, the use of artificial dermis in the reconstruction of partial- and full-thickness scalp defects has not been well documented.


METHODS
Seven patients (six men and one woman; mean age, 70 +/- 14 years) with partial-thickness (three patients) and full-thickness (four patients) soft-tissue defects of the scalp (mean defect area, 97 +/- 58 cm) following resection of recurrent malignant tumors and/or previous failed reconstructions underwent staged scalp reconstruction with a bilaminate skin substitute (Integra). After adequate debridement of scalp wounds, including burring the outer table of the calvaria down to bleeding bone for full-thickness defects, Integra was scored and applied unexpanded. A split-thickness skin graft (0.011 +/- 0.0 inch in thickness) was placed on the operative site at postoperative day 36 +/- 15 after removal of the silicone layer of the artificial dermis. Two patients required repeated applications of artificial dermis to compensate for contour deficits before skin grafting.


RESULTS
Clinically, all reconstructed areas showed well-vascularized neodermis before skin grafting. There was a 100 percent take of the skin grafts, with no infections or other complications noted. All reconstructive procedures were performed in less than 3 hours of combined operative time, with the last stage performed on an outpatient basis.


CONCLUSIONS
Artificial dermis can be used successfully for reconstruction of complex scalp defects following oncologic resection, offering minimal donor-site morbidity, expedient operative time, and when needed, temporary quality closure until final pathologic results are known. Integra skin may offer another option for definitive management of extensive full-thickness scalp defects.
Komorowska-Timek
Ewa
E
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif 92354, USA.
Gabriel
Allen
A
Bennett
Della C
DC
Miles
Duncan
D
Garberoglio
Carlos
C
Cheng
Chester
C
Gupta
Subhas
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012535:Scalp; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D017768:Skin, Artificial
C114835:integra artificial skin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D003094:Collagen