Synthetic Hybrid-Scale Fiber Matrix in the Trauma and Acute Care Surgical Practice

Complex cutaneous wounds resulting from disease and trauma can be difficult to heal and may require advanced treatment options. Split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) and other biologic allogeneic and xenogeneic skin substitutes are limited in their ability to manage these lesions, and STSGs may also be limited in availability. A synthetic hybrid-scale fiber matrix, engineered with an architecture similar to native extracellular matrix, has been shown to have excellent durability and does not carry the risks of disease transmission or inflammatory response associated with biologic materials; it may offer a new option for managing these complex wounds. In this preliminary study, the synthetic matrix was used to treat 3 patients with difficult-to-treat wounds, including lesions associated with calciphylaxis, enteroatmospheric abdominal fistula, and necrotizing fasciitis of the hand with exposed tendon. Treatment with the synthetic matrix resulted in significant reepithelialization and wound healing. The successful results suggest that the synthetic matrix enables healing of complex cutaneous wounds and may be a reasonable alternative to STSG, even in particularly challenging cases.