• Roberto Adani, Leonardo Rossati, Luigi Tarallo, and Massimo Corain.
• Department of Hand Surgery and Microsurgery, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: roberto.adani@ospedaleuniverona.it.
• J Hand Surg Am. 2014 Nov 1; 39 (11): 2228-34.

PurposeTo assess the results obtained with Integra artificial dermis to cover donor site following the harvesting of pedicle flaps for hand reconstruction.MethodsBetween April 2010 and August 2013, 11 patients (8 men and 3 women; mean age, 37 y) were treated with Integra Dermal Regeneration Template (Integra LifeSciences, Inc., Plainsboro, NY) to cover donor defects after raising pedicle flaps for hand and finger reconstruction: radial forearm flap (4 cases), ulnar artery perforator flap (2 cases), and heterodigital island flap (5 cases). After neodermis formation the silicone layer of the artificial dermis was removed (on average after 22 days) and a split- or full-thickness epidermal autograft placed.ResultsNo infections, hematoma, or bleeding were recorded during the entire phase in which the artificial skin was applied. Two patients experienced a partial skin graft loss. Median follow-up was 20 months, and results included an average Vancouver Scar Scale rating of 2.7 and an average DASH score of 39. There were no cases of graft adherence to the underlying tendons or muscles.ConclusionsFavorable cosmetic and functional outcomes were obtained using a dermal regeneration template for the treatment of donor site defects. Despite the drawback of an additional surgical procedure (secondary skin graft), the use of this artificial skin produced soft-tissue augmentation and graft-skin quality, reducing donor site morbidity.Type Of Study/Level Of EvidenceTherapeutic IV.Copyright © 2014 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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