title: Application of acellular dermal matrix in reconstruction of oral mucosal defects in 36 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Artificial grafts have been investigated for use in the repair of oral mucosal defects. The aim of this retrospective study was to present the outcomes of the use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) grafts to repair oral mucosal defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 36 patients with oral mucosal defects reconstructed with ADM grafts from 2003 through 2009 were reviewed. All patients were followed-up for at least 6 months to observe the graft repair, wound-healing time, contracture, color, infection, pain, immunologic reaction, texture of the graft, and clinical course. Graft success was defined as the ADM graft being replaced by new mucosa-like tissue and the oral mucosal defect being covered with the new mucosa-like tissue. Any evidence of incomplete graft re-epithelialization or graft sloughing was considered a graft failure (complete or incomplete).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 36 cases, 34 grafts (94.4%) were successfully replaced with new mucosa-like tissues and only 2 grafts (5.6%) failed. No complaints such as pain, immunologic reaction, or infection were observed during the follow-up. Mild graft contraction occurred in 7 patients with lip or buccal defects, especially at approximately 3 to 5 weeks after the reconstructive surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ADM grafts for oral mucosal defects were safe and effective. The present data support the clinical application of ADM grafts in reconstructing oral mucosal defects caused by various oral diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Mucosal Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei-Wen
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003094:Collagen; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D062326:Re-Epithelialization; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017768:Skin, Artificial; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C440568:Alloderm; D003094:Collagen