Pearls for Practice: Managing Wounds with Exposed Tendon and Bone

  Wounds with exposed tendon and bone present a challenging problem for the wound care surgeon. Ideally, the tendon or bone should be free of infection and necrosis; therefore, debridement is necessary before additional procedures are performed. Also, tissues must be adequately hydrated to avoid desiccation and to preserve the viability of the tendon and peritenon. Desiccation can lead to tissue death, infection, loss of tendon function, and possible pathological rupture.   We employ a variety of products when addressing wounds with tendon and bone exposure. Allografts and xenografts, along with rotational and free flaps, can be utilized for biological coverage. We often use conventional frozen cadaveric skin and xenographic materials such as Primatrix™ (TEI Biosciences Inc.) and Graft Jacket® and Graft Jacket Express® (Wright Medical Technology) for deep tissue space, often in conjunction with OsteoMed’s OsteoSet beads (Wright Medical Technology) impregnated with antibiotics such as vancomycin. These materials create a scaffold or matrix to facilitate tissue integration and granulation and to enhance feasibility of other wound coverage options that can complete the healing process. Once granulation tissue is present, autologous split-thickness skin grafts or re-applications of xenografts often are performed to achieve complete closure.

Pearls for Practice is made possible through the support of Ferris Mfg. Corp, Burr Ridge, IL (www.polymem.com).The opinions and statements of the clinicians providing Pearls for Practice are specific to the respective authors and are not necessarily those of Ferris Mfg. Corp., OWM, or HMP Communications. This article was not subject to the Ostomy Wound Management peer-review process. Share your Pearls for Practice. If your Pearl is selected for publication, you will receive honoraria or a free copy of Chronic Wound Care IV. Send your Pearls to the Editor: bzeiger@hmpcommunications.com.