The clinical application effects of artificial dermis scaffold and autologous split‐thickness skin composite grafts combined with vacuum‐assisted closure in refractory wounds
Authors: Wu Yi‐Zhu , Huang Chun‐Hui , Zhang Xin‐Yu , Shen Guo‐Liang 
Published: February 2023

To investigate the clinical application effects of artificial dermis scaffold and autologous split‐thickness skin composite grafts combined with vacuum‐assisted closure (V.A.C) in refractory wounds. A retrospective analysis was performed on 70 patients with refractory wounds admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from June 2019 to December 2021 (44 males and 25 females, with an average age of 49.3 ± 21.4 years). There were 26 patients with chronic ulcers; 3 patients with cancerous wounds; 16 patients with hot crush injuries; and 25 patients with traumatic wounds, including 21 cases of hands, 33 cases of feet, 6 cases of upper limbs, and 10 cases of lower limbs. The patients were divided into an artificial dermis scaffold group (35 patients, including 21 males and 14 females, aged 49.5 ± 21.3 years) and a skin graft group (35 patients, including 23 males and 11 females, aged 49.1 ± 21.5 years). In the artificial dermis scaffold group, after debridement, the artificial dermis scaffold was transplanted for approximately 2 weeks until the wound surface was well vascularized, after which the autologous split‐thick skin graft was transplanted. Negative pressure wound therapy was performed throughout the treatment. In the skin grafting group, after debridement, the autologous split‐thickness skin graft (aSTSG) was transplanted, and negative pressure wound therapy was performed continuously. The wound healing rate; skin graft survival rate; postoperative wound infection; exudative fluid volume; subcutaneous haematoma; hospitalisation time; hospitalisation cost; Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) score, used to evaluate the scar of the recipient area at 6 months after the operation; and the sensory disorder grading method, used to evaluate the sensory recovery of the recipient area, were compared between the two groups. All 70 refractory wounds healed. In the artificial dermis scaffold group, the skin graft survival rate was 90% (86%–95%), the hospitalisation time was 38 (29–45) days, the hospitalisation cost was 148 102 (118242–192327) yuan, and the VSS score was 1.9 ± 1.3. There were significant differences in skin graft survival rate (70% [60%–80%]), length of hospital stay (21 [14–28] days), hospitalisation cost (76 201 [39228–135 919] yuan) and VSS score [6.1 ± 3.6] between the skin graft group and the artificial dermis scaffold group (P < .05). The skin graft survival rate, scar hyperplasia and sensory recovery of the recipient area in the artificial dermis scaffold group were better than those in the skin graft group, but the hospitalisation time was relatively longer, and the hospitalisation cost was relatively higher. Wound healing rate, postoperative wound infection, exudate volume, and subcutaneous haematoma of patients in the two groups were similar, and there were no significant differences (P > .05). The artificial dermis scaffold and composite transplantation of autologous aSTSG with V.A.C can promote painless wound healing and improve the skin survival rate, skin colour and lustre, and flexible smooth texture and is conducive to less scar hyperplasia and postoperative functional exercise and recovery. This method provides a reasonable and effective scheme for the treatment of clinical refractory wounds.