Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Tissue Characterization after a New Disaggregation Method for Skin Micro-Grafts Generation
Published on: March 4, 2016
Utility of Dermal Wound Matrices Compared with Local-Tissue Rearrangement and Free Flap Reconstruction for Oncologic
Sammy Othman1, Sameer Shakir1, Saïd C Azoury1
1From the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, and Division of Dermatologic Surgery, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania.
Background:
Local tissue rearrangement, free flap reconstruction, and Bilayer Wound Matrix represent reconstructive modalities for coverage of scalp defects; however, preferred indications are less clear. The authors aimed to evaluate the efficacy of these interventions.
Methods:
A retrospective review (2008 to 2019) was performed of subjects requiring soft-tissue reconstruction of oncologic scalp wounds. Subjects were dual matched into two comparative cohorts: (1) local tissue rearrangement versus Bilayer Wound Matrix, and (2) free flap reconstruction versus Bilayer Wound Matrix. Ninety-day wound coverage, hospital length of stay, operative time, and wound complications were compared.
Results:
In total, 361 subjects were included. Following matching, 126 subjects constituted the local tissue rearrangement versus Bilayer Wound Matrix cohort, and 56 constituted the free flap reconstruction versus Bilayer Wound Matrix cohort. Local tissue rearrangement/Bilayer Wound Matrix median defect size was 35 ± 42.5 cm2. Local tissue rearrangement provided significantly better wound coverage at 90 days (95.2 percent) compared to Bilayer Wound Matrix (84.1 percent) (p < 0.040). Median defect size in the free flap reconstruction/Bilayer Wound Matrix cohort was 100 ± 101.1 cm2. Ninety-day success (free flap reconstruction, 92.9 percent; Bilayer Wound Matrix, 96.4 percent; p < 1.00) and reoperation rates (14.3 percent versus 3.6 percent; p < 0.352) were similar. However, free flap reconstruction had significantly greater operative times (418 minutes versus 100 minutes; p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Local tissue rearrangement may be more reliable for smaller wounds (<100 cm2) compared to Bilayer Wound Matrix. Bilayer Wound Matrix may have comparable efficacy to free flap reconstruction for larger defects (150 to 250 cm2), and may be more cost-effective, given greater operative time and length of stay associated with free flap reconstruction.
Clinical Question/Level Of Evidence:
Therapeutic, III.
