Esterified Hyaluronic Acid Matrix in Lower Extremity Reconstruction With Exposed Tendon and Bone: A Retrospective Review

Lower extremity wounds with exposed bone and tendon often need coverage to allow the underlying tissue to regenerate prior to skin graft. The surgeon is limited in his or her choices to augment tissue regeneration in these types of complicated cases; for instance, autologous skin should not be placed on exposed bone or tendon and is at risk for contracture when placed over the joints. Therefore, novel technologies are necessary to provide a scaffolding for tissue to regenerate and allow for a successful graft. One such technology is an esterified hyaluronic acid matrix (eHAM), which can provide a proper scaffold for endothelial cell migration and aid in angiogenesis. The eHAM is made of two layers: a layer of hyaluronic acid covered with a silicone layer. In this retrospective chart review, we describe our usage of eHAM to provide scaffolding for tissue regeneration prior to grafting in 15 cases of complicated lower extremity wounds with exposed bone and tendon. The average patient age was 45.8 years, and all patients had multiple medical comorbidities, such as poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and nicotine addiction. Patient wound types were diverse, including traumatic wounds, chronic diabetic foot ulcers, and thermal or electric burns. Thirteen of the 15 cases were treated successfully with eHAM. In these cases, definitive coverage with split-thickness skin grafting was effective and limb salvage was successful. In the 13 successful cases, the mean time to split-thickness skin graft was 22.9 ± 7.0 days. All patients continue to do well at follow-up (ranging from 6 to 48 weeks), with minimal complications reported. Given the success rate with eHAM in this challenging population, we conclude that eHAM can be a treatment option for similar cases.