Background: Recently, micronized adipose tissue (MAT) grafts have shown promising results in wound healing, including diabetic ulcers.
Objective: To assess the possibility of using 3D printed MAT niche grafts in the management of skin and soft tissue defects resulting from non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) resections.
Materials and methods: A retrospective feasibility study was conducted on patients with skin and soft tissue defects resulting from NMSC resections. Twenty-one patients were treated using either artificial dermis (n = 11) or MAT niche (n = 10) grafting. Healing time and POSAS scores were compared. The Mann-Whitney U test and the Pearson chi-square test were used in statistical analysis to compare between and within groups based on preoperative and postoperative measurements.
Results: Wounds in the MAT niche group reepithelialized significantly faster than those in the artificial dermis group (mean [SD] 39.2 [11.4] days vs 63.7 [34.8] days; P = .04). In the 21 scar parameters evaluated, the MAT niche group demonstrated significantly superior outcomes in only 2 parameters based on operator assessment scores: relief (mean [SD] 1.6 [0.7] vs 2.2 [0.6]; P = .047) and scar contracture (mean [SD] 1.3 [0.5] vs 2.5 [1.0]; P = .011).
Conclusion: This study proves the feasibility of exploring the effects of MAT niche grafting following NMSC excision on healing time and specific parameters of scarring, including scar relief and scar contracture.