Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defect on Scleroderma Using STSG & Artificial Dermis (Terudermis(R))

ABSTRACT

Scleroderma is a rare disease characterized by hard and thick skin, due to fibrosis of tissue with excessive deposition of collagen and extracellular matrix. It is well known that sclerodermatous skin does not heal well after trauma and also difficult to select proper reconstruction method. This article presents a treatment of skin and soft tissue defect with tendon exposure in a scleroderma patient using artificial dermis and STSG. A 67-year old woman, diagnosed as localized scleroderma in 2001, had contact thermal burn on her right hand 2 months ago. She was referred due to 9x5 cm sized skin and soft tissue defect with inflammation and necrosis on the dorsum of her right hand. Necrotic and inflammated tissues were excised under local anesthesia and, on postoperative day 13, debridement & artificial dermis (Terudermis(R)) was applied under general anesthesia. Her cutaneous lesion was spread so widely that we couldn't find appropriate donor site. After 16 days, wound was covered with STSG donated from sclerodermatous skin on right thigh. Artificial dermis was taken without inflammation or other specific complications, and she had uneventful post-operative course after STSG.