Long-term scarring outcomes and safety of patients treated with NovoSorbR? Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix (BTM): An observational cohort study

Background/Aim: NovoSorbR ? Biodegradable Temporizing Matrix (BTM) is a relatively novel, biodegradable polyurethane-based der-mal regeneration template. The aim of this study was to evalu-ate the long-term scarring outcomes and safety of BTM in patients who underwent dermal reconstruction involving >5% of the total body surface area.Methods: This was a postmarket, multicenter, observational co-hort study involving evaluation of long-term outcomes in patients treated with BTM. A total of 55 patients (35 from Royal Adelaide Hospital, South Australia, and 20 from Victoria Adult Burns Service, The Alfred, Victoria) who underwent dermal repair with BTM be-tween 2011 and 2017 were screened for inclusion in this study. All patients had BTM implanted for >18 months.Results: Fifteen eligible patients with a mean (SD) age of 49.1 (14.3) years completed study assessments. These patients had a total of 39 areas treated with BTM. Using the Patient and Ob-server Scar Assessment Scale, scar quality was reported to be good by both observers and patients, with a mean (SD) observer score across all lesions of 3.6 (1.2) and mean (SD) overall opinion of 3.8 (1.2) as well as a mean (SD) patient score of 3.5 (1.2) and overall opinion of 5.0 (2.2). No adverse events or adverse device effects were reported or identified.Conclusion: The long-term scar quality is comparable to published studies. BTM is safe in the long term with no additional risks or adverse consequences being identified.& COPY; 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. This is an open access article under the CC BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )