Acellular Fish Skin Grafts for Treatment of Periocular Skin Defects

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Plastic Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Mohs surgery effectively treats skin cancers but often leaves defects requiring reconstruction.
• Traditional reconstruction methods may involve autologous skin grafts or allografts, each with potential drawbacks.
• Novel biomaterials are being explored to improve reconstructive outcomes and patient convenience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of acellular fish skin grafts for periocular anterior lamella skin defects.
• To assess the cosmetic results and complication rates associated with this xenograft material.
• To determine if acellular fish skin grafts can serve as a viable alternative to traditional reconstructive methods.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing Mohs surgery for skin cancers (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) between January 2022 and December 2023.
• Acellular fish skin grafts were used for periocular anterior lamella defect repair.
• Patient demographics, defect characteristics, graft details, and postoperative outcomes including cosmetic assessment were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Six patients (mean age 60.8 years) with periocular defects (eyebrow, eyelid, nasal wall) were treated.
• Defect sizes varied, with some requiring multiple graft applications.
• One patient experienced mild cicatricial ectropion; all others demonstrated good wound healing and acceptable cosmetic results without significant complications.

Conclusions:

• Acellular fish skin xenografts represent a promising alternative for reconstructing Mohs surgery defects.
• This approach may reduce the reliance on autologous skin harvesting or allogenic tissue.
• Further investigation in larger studies is warranted to confirm these findings.