Management of severe hand wounds with Integra® dermal regeneration template

J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2011 Mar;36(3):185-93. doi: 10.1177/1753193410387329. Epub 2010 Nov 15.

Abstract

We report our experience with the use of Integra® for the management of severe traumatic wounds of the hand. Fifteen patients were treated with follow-up ranging from 10 to 37 months. Wounds were associated with an osseous and/or joint and/or tendon exposure. Following Integra® placement, patients were managed with dressings and subsequent split-thickness skin grafting an average of 26 days later. Integra® was successful in achieving durable, functional and aesthetic definitive coverage in 13 of 15 applications while allowing a satisfying pollicidigital prehension. Regarding our clinical experience, Integra® is an effective technique to deal with severe wounds of the hand with exposed tendon and/or bone and/or joint, even in the absence of paratenon or periosteum. This can potentially lessen the need for local rotational or free flap coverage and should be taken into consideration as a viable alternative in traumatic reconstruction of the hand.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Chondroitin Sulfates / therapeutic use*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Collagen / therapeutic use*
  • Hand Injuries / complications
  • Hand Injuries / pathology
  • Hand Injuries / surgery*
  • Hand Strength
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures*
  • Recovery of Function
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wound Healing / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • integra artificial skin
  • Chondroitin Sulfates
  • Collagen