Bovine collagen xenograft repair of extensive surgical scalp wounds with exposed calvarium in the elderly: Increased rates of wound healing

BACKGROUNDPostsurgical scalp wounds that extend to the calvarium present a challenge for repair, especially in the elderly patient with multiple comorbidites. When second-intention healing is selected for closure, patients often have prolonged healing times.OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical outcomes of animal-derived collagen xenograft placement on postsurgical scalp wounds extending to the calvarium.METHODSEleven patients (ages, 61 through 95 years) with calvarium-exposed wounds treated solely with bovine-derived collagen xenografts were reviewed with follow-up extending 12 to 30 weeks after initial surgery.RESULTSIncreased rates of healing were found in the xenograft-treated wounds as compared with previous studies of calvarium-exposed wounds healed by second intention alone. Advantages of animal-derived collagen xenografts include immediate coverage of the wound, simple application, low cost, and avoidance of the morbidity associated with local flap, graft, and free flap repairs.CONCLUSIONIn patients with postsurgical scalp defects with exposed calvarium, collagen xenograft placement may expedite second-intention healing and offer other advantages in the elderly population.