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Bovine-derived collagen xenograft increased rate of second-intention wound healing time

Researchers found that the addition of bovine-derived collagen xenograft improves secondary-intention healing in patients with postoperative scalp defects involving an exposed calvarium, according to a recent study.

Megan N. Rogge, MD, and colleagues evaluated 11 patients with calvarium-exposed wounds who received bovine-derived collagen xenografts. The patients were evaluated at 12 weeks and 30 weeks after surgery. The researchers compared the results with results from previous studies of second-intention healing only in patients with calvarium-exposed wounds.

The researchers found that granulation fully covered the calvarium in a mean of 6.5 weeks, with reepithelialization occurring in a mean of 17.7 weeks for all patients. They noted improved morbidity with bovine-derived collagen xenograft compared to local flap, graft, and free flap repairs. Rogge and colleagues also concluded the xenograft repair had a lower cost, simple application, and immediate wound coverage compared with other methods of calvarium-exposed wound repair, they wrote.

“A 100% pure collagen xenograft, such as that used in this study, has the added benefit in definitive treatment of Mohs surgical scalp wounds because the pure collagen xenograft does not need to be removed from the wound bed as it is absorbed by the host tissue, nor does it require delayed grafting,” the researchers wrote. “Although the authors anticipate in some cases that additional surgery may be needed, this has not been their experience to date.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.