Use of a collagen- XXXX matrix for hard to treat soft tissue defects.

@entity1 @entity2362 @entity5
As deep soft tissue defects with exposed bone, cartilage or tendons are not suitable for wound closure with skin mesh grafts, other techniques are needed. We report on six @entity1 , one female and five males, aged between 32 and 89 years, and deep soft tissue defects with exposed tendons, cartilage or bone. The aetiology of these defects was vascular (n = 3), @entity5 surgery (2), and post-traumatic (1). Wounds were treated with a collagen- @entity2362 matrix applied above the exposed structures. In five @entity1 , the procedure was combined with mesh graft transplantation in the same setting. Follow-up varied between 12 and 40 weeks. Wound healing was uncomplicated in all transplanted @entity1 until first dressing change after 7 days. All but one transplant showed a 100% take rate and the transplant was stable within 10-14 days. A complete wound closure was also achieved without transplantation, but this took 8 weeks. No adverse effects were noted. There was no skin contracture of the skin grafts. Collagen- @entity2362 matrix with split-thickness skin grafts is a useful tool in deep soft tissue. The time to heal can be reduced.
