Usefulness and limitations of artificial dermis implantation for posttraumatic deformity.

We have previously reported the use of artificial dermis implantation to cover exposed major vessels and to correct a depressed region after tissue resection and bone deformity with satisfactory results. In this paper, we present cases with depressed lesions and adhesive lesions after trauma, treated with artificial dermis implantation. Artificial dermis (Terudermis, Terumo Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was implanted in 12 cases of posttraumatic deformity. Eight of the 12 cases involved a depressed lesion, and the other four involved adhesive lesions. There was no postoperative infection or allergic reaction in any of the patients. Improvement of the deformity was obtained in all cases, but the degree of volume reduction in traumatic cases is likely to be more severe than that in the non-traumatic cases previously reported. In conclusion, artificial dermis implantation is an easy, safe, and useful method to correct a posttraumatic deformity, such as a depression or an adhesion, although it is important to note that depressions require overcorrection in order to obtain satisfactory results, as compared with non-traumatic cases treated with artificial dermis.