Use of a new acellular dermal matrix for treatment of nonhealing wounds in the lower extremities of patients with diabetes.

Background: Acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) have successfully been used in the treatment of nonhealing wounds in patients with diabetes.

Methods: A new decellularized biological scaffold derived from human skin, D-ADM, (DermACELL, LifeNet Health, Virginia Beach, VA), has shown increased cell infiltration, host tissue integration, and vascularization in comparison to other ADMs. This clinical investigation evaluated the wound closing properties of D-ADM on 18 full-thickness lower extremity wounds in 15 patients with diabetes over a period of 12 weeks.

Results: A complete wound closure (100% epithelialization) rate of 58% (7/12) and an average duration of 10 weeks was demonstrated. Wound healing, defined as ≥ 95% wound closure, was established in 83% of the wounds (10/12) by the end of the study treatment.

Conclusions: These results compare favorably with other methods of advanced wound care treatment options that utilize skin substitutes to accelerate the healing of difficult-to-treat or chronic wounds.