Rebuilding Recovery: A Collaborative Approach to Complex Wound Healing

When a healthy young man was rushed into surgery for a necrotizing soft tissue infection, the situation escalated quickly. Despite his strong baseline health and rapid response to critical care, the challenges ahead were significant. For his surgeon, Dr. Zalamea, survival wasn’t the only concern. It was what life would look like after recovery.

“I wasn’t as worried about whether he would survive,” Dr. Zalamea recalls. “He was young, healthy, and responded quickly. What worried me was how he would get back to his life.”

Following an aggressive debridement, the patient was left with complex tissue loss. Traditionally, the path forward would involve extended wound care, waiting for the site to become suitable for grafting, often with uncertain functional outcomes. Questions loomed: Would he regain mobility? Return to work? Be able to lift weights, or even hold his child again?

It a critical moment, an unexpected connection changed the trajectory of care. While attending the Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Surgeons meeting, Dr. Zalamea connected with an Integra LifeSciences representative and learned about  MicroMatrix® UBM Particulate, and the broader Integra LifeSciences wound reconstruction portfolio. Within days, the MicroMatrix, an extracellular matrix derived from porcine urinary bladder matrix (UBM), was made available at her Level 1 trauma center.

“I realized even at post-op day one that we had an opportunity to change his outcome,” she explains. MicroMatrix was used to address the complex wound environment, helping fill deep tissue planes and support the wound bed. Instead of passively waiting for healing, the approach helped bridge the critical gap between surgery and recovery.

As healing progressed, the care approach evolved. MicroMatrix was used to build the initial wound base and support tissue viability in compromised planes. In select areas, Cytal® Wound Matrix was applied to further support the wound environment and facilitate granulation. As the patient advanced toward reconstruction, PriMatrix® Dermal Repair Scaffold was incorporated to support the formation of vascularized tissue prior to definitive closure by grafting. This portfolio-based approach allowed the care team to adapt treatment alongside the many stages of the patient’s healing trajectory.

“On a tissue level, it feels like we’re tilting the scales toward viability,” Dr. Zalamea says. “We’re helping salvage areas that might otherwise be lost.”

As healing progressed, the care team advanced through Integra’s portfolio, building the wound base and subsequently using a graft for definitive closure. The patient was able to move to a split-thickness skin graft far sooner than expected, accelerating his overall recovery timeline.

For Justin, the Integra LifeSciences associate sales representative involved in the case, the experience was equally meaningful. Early in his career, witnessing the patient’s transformation firsthand reinforced the purpose behind his role.

“It’s easy to miss the human side when you’re not there for the whole journey,” Justin reflects. “Seeing him walk in, smiling, and being able to shake his hand. That was a full-circle moment.”

Today, the patient has returned to his daily life, regaining strength, mobility and independence. For Dr. Zalamea, that outcome is the true measure of success.

“The goal isn’t just to get them out of the hospital,” she says. “It’s to get them back to living.”

This case highlights what can happen when clinical expertise, innovative technology and collaborative partnership come together at the right moment, empowering both surgeons and patients to move forward with confidence.

Product Information

The results presented in this video are case-specific and should not be used to draw general conclusions as to clinical outcomes. Moreover, any statements made by Dr. Zalamea and others during this presentation are their own opinions and should not be construed as claims about the features, attributes, safety or efficacy of the Integra LifeSciences products mentioned herein.

MicroMatrix UBM Particulate and Cytal Wound Matrix

Indications for Use

Intended for the management of wounds including: partial and full-thickness wounds, pressure ulcers, venous ulcers, diabetic ulcers, chronic vascular ulcers, tunneled/undermined wounds, surgical wounds (donor sites/grafts, post-Mohs surgery, post-laser surgery, podiatric, wound dehiscence), trauma wounds (abrasions, lacerations, second-degree burns, skin tears), and draining wounds. The device is intended for one time use.

Contraindications

• Patients with known sensitivity or allergy to porcine materials.
• Third-degree burns.

Warnings 

• Exposure to contaminated or infected field can lead to rapid breakdown of device.
• If active infection is present, treat patient to resolve infection prior to device application.

PriMatrix Dermal Scaffold

Indications for Use

Intended for the management of wounds that include; partial- and full-thickness wounds, pressure, diabetic, and venous ulcers, partial thickness burns, surgical wounds—donor sites/grafts, post-Moh’s surgery, post-laser surgery, podiatric, wound dehiscence, trauma wounds-abrasions, lacerations and skin tears, tunneled/undermined wounds, draining wounds.

Contraindications

PriMatrix should not be used for patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to collagen or bovine products.

Warnings 

• PriMatrix should be used with caution in regions where an infection exists or
   is suspected. Treat any existing infection appropriately.
• PriMatrix has not been evaluated for use in the pediatric population.