Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix in Reconstructive Surgery: A Review

In recent decades, tissue engineering advances have led to more skin substitutes becoming available. Acellular dermal matrix, initially developed for use in the treatment of full-thickness burns, is made by removing the cellular components from the dermis collected from donated bodies or animals. This class of scaffold is used to replace skin and soft tissue deficiencies in a variety of fields, including breast reconstruction, abdominal wall reconstruction, and burn treatment. Herein, we provide a detailed review of the clinical applications of acellular dermal matrix.

Citation Analysis in Breast Reconstruction Publications Between 2000 and 2010

Introduction and Purpose: Breast reconstruction is an active area of plastic surgery research. Citation analysis allows for quantitative analysis of publications, with more citations presumed to indicate greater influence. We performed citation analysis to evaluate the most cited papers on breast reconstruction between 2000 to 2010 to identify contemporary research trends. Methods: The SCI-EXPANDED database was used to identify the 50 most cited papers. Data points included authorship, publication year, publication journal, study design, level of evidence, number of surgeons/institutions, center of surgery, primary outcome assessed, implant/flap/acellular dermal matrix/fat graft, acellular dermal matrix brand and use with implants/flaps, fat graft use with implants/flaps, unilateral/bilateral, one-/two-stage, immediate/delayed, number of patients/procedures, complications. Descriptive analysis of trends was performed based on results. Results: 20% of papers were published in 2006, 16% in 2007 and 12% in both 2004/2009. 66% were published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The majority were retrospective or case series, and of Level III or IV evidence. The one Level I study was a prospective multicenter trial. 21 and 7 papers discussed procedures by single/multiple surgeons, respectively. Results from single/multiple centers were discussed in 18 and 6 papers, respectively. 30 papers discussed implant-based reconstruction, 22 papers flap-based (19 microsurgical), 15 papers acellular dermal matrix, and five papers fat grafting. The primary focus in the majority was complications or outcomes. Conclusion: Our analysis demonstrates continually evolving techniques in breast reconstruction. However, there is notable lack of high quality evidence to guide surgical decision-making in the face of increasing surgical options.

The Effect of Acellular Dermal Matrix on the Success of Primary Palatoplasty With Intravelar Veloplasty

BackgroundAcellular Dermal Matrix graft is usually used to repair fistulas following a cleft palate and has had positive results. But its use for primary palatoplasty has been less studied. Our aim was to compare the usefulness of using Acellular Dermal Matrix transplantation for primary palatoplasty with intravelar veloplasty in contrast to its lack of useMaterials and methodsA total of 72 children (6 months to 6 years old) with cleft palate were included in the study. The case-control prospective observations were conducted. A group underwent primary palatoplasty with intravelar veloplasty using Acellular Dermal Matrix and the control group had the same surgery without using Acellular Dermal Matrix. Patients were monitored for fistula formation, post-operative infection, and ulcers.ResultsNo post-surgical infection and wound opening was seen in any group. In the recipients of Acellular Dermal Matrix and control group three and six fistula was reported in which patients had soft and hard palate involvement and the cleft with length greater than 15 mm.ConclusionsConsidering the double incidence of fistulas in the control group compared to the ADM recipient, it seems that the use of ADM can be effective in reducing the incidence of fistulas. Since fistula is one of the complications of primary palatoplasty surgery and leads to secondary surgeries, the use of ADM can be helpful.