AlloDerm RTU Integration and Clinical Outcomes When Used for Reconstructive Breast Surgery

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• AlloDerm Ready To Use (RTU) is a sterile regenerative tissue matrix designed to mitigate infection risks associated with aseptic matrices.
• Limited clinical and histologic data exist for AlloDerm RTU, particularly regarding graft integration and long-term outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the histologic evidence of graft integration and clinical outcomes of AlloDerm RTU in tissue-expander/implant-based breast reconstruction.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of AlloDerm RTU in a clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of consecutive patients undergoing breast reconstruction with AlloDerm RTU from March 2011 to September 2012.
• Histologic evaluation of AlloDerm RTU/capsule interface biopsies for cellularization, vascularization, and inflammation.
• Review of patient records for short-term and long-term postoperative complications.

Main Results:

• 116 biopsies from 68 patients showed near-complete visual integration of grafts.
• Histology revealed mild-to-moderate neovascularization and cellular repopulation without inflammation.
• Short-term complication rates (skin necrosis 10.3%, seroma 4.3%, infection 2.6%) and long-term capsular contracture (5.2%) were comparable to previous AlloDerm matrix data.

Conclusions:

• AlloDerm RTU effectively integrates into host tissue during breast reconstruction.
• No unexpected safety issues were identified with AlloDerm RTU use up to 5 years postoperatively.