The use of artificial dermis for surgical defects in the treatment of oral premalignant lesions.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated the application of an artificial dermis as a substitute for split-thickness skin graft in an oral mucosal defect after excision of a premalignant lesion.


METHODS
We examined a total of 125 sites repaired with artificial dermis in 84 patients. Forty-one of 84 patients had two different defects and 43 had a single defect. Of 84 patients, there were 52 oral leukoplakia and 32 oral submucous fibrosis.


RESULTS
Most patients chewed betel nuts (97.6%). Most of the premalignant lesions were located in the buccal mucosa (94%). The overall success rate was 100% without any or partial graft loss. The minor wound oozing occurred in three grafts (2.4%). No patient had an immunologic reaction or experienced with significant pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, an artificial dermis may be an alterative to a split-thickness skin graft for patients with oral mucosal defects after removal of premalignant lesions.
Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chun-Ming
CM
Chen
Chia-Fu
CF
Yang
Yee-Shyong
YS
Shen
I-Yueh
IY
Huang
Chih-Fung
CF
Wu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020405:Dermis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome