Breast cancer reconstruction is frequently done in two stages: tissue expander followed by final implant. Many surgeons use acellular dermal matrix in the reconstruction. Does this affect tissue expansion? Should you use them?
This as a study where they compared tissue expansion with and without ADM on a pig model. Tissue expanders were inflated twice and then looked at the biopsy site under a microscope.
“Acellular Dermal Matrix Cover Improves Skin Growth during Tissue Expansion by Affecting Distribution of Mechanical Forces.” April Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Journal.
Findings:
- ADM does not impede skin growth and blood vessel formation
- It does give a more uniform distribution of mechanical forces in expansion
My thoughts?
Interesting. Many of my colleagues are now not using ADM but using Galaflex and other alternatives. I would think that the results of making uniform mechanical forces is the same.
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