Regenerative Wound Healing by Open Grafting of Autologous Fat and PRP-Gel – A New Concept and Potential Alternative to Flaps

A new regenerative technique is described that enabled in situ formation of soft tissue bridge for difficult wounds, which otherwise needed flaps, resulting in complete healing in 3/3 cases. The wounds were debrided till healthy bleeding and covered with a triple-layer matrix of platelet-rich fibrin gel, condensed liposuctioned autologous fat, and porous collagen dressing. Negative pressure wound therapy was applied after 48 hours for 4–5 days in 2 cases and after 11 days for 3 weeks in the third case. Rapid vascularization was noted, with regeneration of mature tissue bridge and subsequent epithelization even over the bone. One patient underwent elective replacement of healed epithelium by split skin graft for better aesthetics and durability. This technique, if further validated, may herald a new concept of in situ regeneration, namely transformation of autologous tissue (grafted in gel form) to viable soft tissue.