Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix Following Fasciectomy for the Treatment of Dupuytren’s Disease

BACKGROUND: Recurrence rates following surgical intervention for Dupuytren's disease (DD) remains high. In this study, we investigate the use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) to reduce recurrence and improve long-term clinical outcome. METHODS: We examined 132 patients undergoing open fasciectomy for DD from 2007 to 2017. The experimental group had a sheet of ADM (FlexHD) sutured into the surgical bed controls were not closed with ADM. Patient characteristics, range of motion, and complications were examined. RESULTS: Twenty-eight (21.2%) patients were treated with acellular dermal matrix, whereas 104 (78.8%) patients were not. The median age was 67.0 years (range 34–91 years). with no differences between group regarding age, comorbidities, and laterality. The mean preoperative interphalangeal joint flexion contracture in the ADM group of 66.5 ± 29.9 degrees was corrected to 9.7 ± 12.4 degrees, whereas the mean metacarpophalangeal joint preoperative flexion contracture of 51.4 ± 23.9 degrees was corrected to 7.8 ± 14.1 degrees at postoperative examination (P < 0.05). The median follow-up was 18.7 months, during which the recurrence of contracture was observed in 1 of 28 patients in the group receiving ADM compared with 9 of 104 in the control group (P = 0.37). There were no differences in the incidence of minor wound complications observed. CONCLUSION: The adjunct placement of acellular dermal matrix into the wound bed following fasciectomy for DD may be an important surgical strategy to reduce recurrence rates as well as augment coverage of exposed vital structures in cases of severe flexion contracture.