Reconstruction with artificial dermis of oncological surgical defects in the craniofacial district—Matriderm® versus Integra®: a non-randomized, unblinded single-operator case series

Abstract

Background

The use of dermal templates after oncologic surgery, such as Matriderm® and Integra®, allows the reconstruction of wide defects without the use of flaps or tissue expanders, minimizing the operative time and the hospital stay. In this study, we aim to analyze the results of Matriderm® and Integra®, both used in the reconstruction of oncological surgical defects in the craniofacial. Our evaluation takes into account the location of the surgical defect, the type of dermal template, and the surgical technique employed.

Methods

Data were collected retrospectively from our database from Jan 2012 to Aug 2016. The patients with a craniofacial skin cancer treated with a dermal template were identified. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were recorded.

Results

In the period from Jan 2012 to Aug 2016, a total of 50 patients were operated for craniofacial skin cancer excision and reconstruction with a dermal template. Both Integra® and Matriderm® were used in 25 patients. The complete healing was generally achieved in 5 weeks for the one-step reconstructions and in 8 weeks for the two-step reconstructions. The global rate of complications was of 20%, and therefore, most of them were resolved with conservative therapy.

Conclusions

We observed that Integra® has a better integration on poorly vascularized surfaces, such as the skull bones; however, the thickness of the dermis obtained is lower than the one obtained with Matriderm®. The latter, when used with the two-step technique, allows complete restoration of the thickness gap obtaining a better cosmetic result.

Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study.