Back on Her Feet and Back to Herself

The doctors discussed amputation as a very real possibility. “I got depressed and scared about losing my foot because my job is a lot of standing, walking, working in the field,” Suzanne recalls. Fearing the loss of her career and active lifestyle, she sought the expertise of a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Although the wound was small, it sat directly over critical structures, exposed bone and tendon, leaving very little margin for error.

Together, they reviewed the full spectrum of options: from the simplest, a partial toe amputation, to more complex techniques such as transferring tissue from another part of her body. In between those extremes was an alternative: an advanced skin substitute, Integra® Bilayer Wound Matrix.

This case was especially challenging. Portions of tendon were nonviable, and the bone surface showed little to no apparent blood supply, conditions that make wound healing unpredictable. In the operating room, the surgeon meticulously prepared the wound and applied the Integra® Bilayer Wound Matrix.

At the first unveiling, both layers of the matrix were drawing in blood supply and integrating with the surrounding tissue. The team proceeded with a second application to stimulate additional growth over the tendon. From there, the wound took off. Daily photos showed steady progress, and within weeks the defect closed on its own, so quickly that the anticipated next surgery was never scheduled.

Today, Suzanne is back to what she loves most. She says, “It’s perfect. It’s all closed. It’s beautiful. I’m back to sports. I can play tennis, jog and hike with no pain. It’s actually better than before.”

Her surgeon continues to rely on Integra® Bilayer Wound Matrix in the operating room, especially in complex cases like hers. For Suzanne, it meant preserving motion, avoiding amputation, and regaining the active life she built around movement.