Infectious Complications Associated with the Use of Integra: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background:

Dermal regeneration templates such as Integra are effective reconstructive biomaterials used in a variety of soft-tissue defects. Fully understanding the complications associated with their use is paramount to improve outcomes and maximize patient safety. In this study, our purpose is to perform a comprehensive literature review to assess the previously reported infectious complications linked to Integra-based wound closure.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify previous articles indexed in PubMed and Ovid for Integra and its synonymous terms. We used these search terms: [Integra OR (dermal regenerative matrix) OR (dermal regeneration matrix) OR (dermal regenerative template) OR (dermal regeneration template) OR (dermal substitute) OR (skin substitute) OR (artificial skin)] AND infection.

Results:

Of the 3508 articles for initial review, 69 reported rates of infection, of which 26 reported ≥1 infection within their cohort. Of these 26 articles, the patients (n = 602) underwent Integra-based reconstruction in 1254 sites and had reported infections in 212 of the sites (16.9%). Among these, we encountered a single report of a fatal case of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) related to the use of Integra in secondary burn reconstruction.

Conclusions:

While Integra offers many benefits, surgeons must be aware that infectious complications are not uncommon. As a result, a careful risk–benefit analysis of its use in reconstruction must be performed, and open discussion with the patient preoperatively regarding infection rate is of utmost importance.

INTRODUCTION

The use of dermal regeneration templates was first described by Burke et al¹ in 1981. In its commercial form, the most widely used dermal regeneration template is Integra (Integra LifeScience Corporation, Plainsboro, N.J.), which is a bilayer composed of a matrix of bovine collagen cross-linked with glycosaminoglycans from shark chondroitin sulfate with an overlying protective silicone layer.² The use of Integra templates in reconstructive surgery has been described in burns,^1,3–5 scalp,^6,7 limbs,⁸ abdominal wall,⁹ degloving injuries,¹⁰ keloids and hypertrophic scars,¹¹ purpura fulminans,¹² hypospadias,¹³ diabetic foot ulcers,¹⁴ and necrotizing soft-tissue infections¹⁵ among other uses.

Although Integra has been shown to be an effective reconstructive tool with excellent functional outcomes, aesthetic results, and high rates of long-term engraftment,^3–5 several complications may be associated with its use. The most common complications linked to Integra use are infections.^5,16–18 Most of the time, these infections are superficial, are associated with a lower rate of graft take, and can be resolved with antibiotics and negative-pressure therapy.^5,19 In this article, we present the results of an extensive literature review of studies reporting infectious complications associated with Integra-based wound closure.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive literature search to identify previous articles by indexing PubMed and Ovid. We used these search terms: ([Integra OR (dermal regenerative matrix) OR (dermal regeneration matrix) OR (dermal regenerative template) OR (dermal regeneration template) OR (dermal substitute) OR (skin substitute) OR (artificial skin)] AND skin) AND infection, which generated 3508 articles for initial review.

Eligibility for Inclusion

The article selection criteria were peer-reviewed publications, case reports or case series utilizing Integra for wound repair, and articles reporting infection rate as one of the surgical outcomes. If the data used in one published article had been reported in another study, we included only the article with the most complete and recent data set. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the steps we followed to identify and select articles for this literature review.

Fig. 1.

Steps taken to perform the literature review to identify articles who report cases of infections as postoperative outcomes following skin reconstruction with Integra.

RESULTS

Of the 26 articles that were included in the study, we extracted the following data points: type of reconstructive surgery performed (eg, burn, limb, general reconstruction), number of patients in the study, the rates of infection, proportions of superficial versus invasive infection, and would healing outcome. Of 446 articles, only 69 cite the infection rate associated with Integra use, and 43 of these reported no infectious complications. Of the 69 articles, 26 of them reported infections related to the use of Integra.^{5,8,13,19–41} When grouping the patient population together from these 26 reports, the generalized incidence of infection is 16.9% out of 1254 Integra sites in 602 patients. The results of the systematic review are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Twenty-six Articles That Reported ≥1 Infection with the Use of Integra

Authors/Year	Reconstruction Type	Patients (#)	Sites (#)	Infections (%)	Superficial (%)	Invasive (%)	Healing Rate (%)
	Burns:
Heimbach et al5	Burns	216	758	17.3	13.2	3.1	NR
Shirley et al20	Burns	1	1	100	0	100	0 (death)
Dantzer and Braye21	Burns	31	39	12.8	80	20	80
Groos et al22	Burns	10	22	22.7	—	—	—
Lee et al23	Burns	7	9	11.1	100	0	100
Bargues et al24	Burns	50	71	29.6	71.4	28.6	NR
Yeong et al25	Burns	10	11	9.1	100	0	100
Nessler et al26	Pediatric burns	15	19	21.	100	0	—
Lohana et al27	Burns	24	37	13.5	100	0	100
Huang et al28	Burns	5	5	20	—	—	—
	Total	368	972	18.1
	General reconstruction:
Suzuki et al29	General reconstruction	23	27	3.7	—	—	—
Suzuki et al30	General reconstruction	41	52	13.4	—	—	—
Jeschke et al31	General reconstruction	12	12	25	33.3	66.7	NR
Unglaub et al32	General reconstruction	12	19	5.21	100	0	100
	Total	88	110	10.9			NR
	Limb reconstruction:
Bhavsar and Tenenhaus33	Hand reconstruction	4	26	3.8	0	100	0
Huemer et al34	Gracilis muscle flap	20	21	9.5	100	0	100
Todd et al35	Self-harm forearm	6	6	16.6	100	0	100
Weigert et al36	Foot and ankle	21	21	4.7	—	—	—
Rodriguez Collazo et al8	Limb reconstruction	17	17	23.5	0	100	75
	Total	68	91	9.8
	Pediatric reconstruction:
Martínez et al37	General reconstruction	11	14	14.2	100	0	100
Stiefel et al19	General reconstruction	18	18	16.5	—	—	—
Ghazi and Williams38	General reconstruction	8	8	12.5	100	0	100
Greenhalgh et al39	Face reconstruction	23	23	17.0	—	—	—
Casal-Beloy et al13	Hypospadias fistula repair	8	8	12.5	100	0	0
	Total	68	71	15.4			NR
	Others:
Bodmer et al40	Facial reconstruction after SCC	6	6	50	0	100	0
Gonzaga et al41	Hidradenitis suppurativa	4	4	25	100	0	0
	Total	10	10	40
Total patients	602
Total Integra sites	1254
Total Integra-site infections	212 (16.9%)

NR, not reported; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma.

DISCUSSION

Our literature review demonstrated reports of infection associated with the use of Integra in a variety of wound categories. The highest percentage of infection with Integra use was seen in burn reconstructions. This is well supported by the number of articles (Table 1), including a relatively large study conducted by Heimbach et al,⁵ which included 13 participating burn centers comprising 216 patients treated with Integra, complicated by infection with an incidence of 16.3% (13.2% superficial and 3.1% invasive). Although the data point to a higher number of infections among the burn reconstruction patient population, patient characteristics, wound pathophysiology, surgeons’ technique, and numerous other confounding variables contribute to the observed differences in infection rate among the studies. There was no statistical difference in infection rate among the different categories relative to burn reconstruction. For example, looking at the incidence of infection alone, the P value of 2-tailed unpaired t test between the burn and non-burn limb reconstruction articles was 0.2316. It is not possible to generate an exact incidence of infection related to Integra use from this review because of the lack of controlled studies and endless confounding variables among the reports. However, Table 1 serves as an organized general overview to the practitioner when discussing with the patient the risks and benefits regarding the use of Integra in wound coverage. Depending on the indications to which Integra is applied, the benefits of its use should routinely surpass its relatively low–moderate rate of infection (13%–15.9%). Most importantly, our literature review identified a single report of a fatal case of toxic shock syndrome related to the use of Integra in burn reconstruction.²⁰

This middle-age patient underwent secondary burn scar revision of neck and axilla with Integra and was readmitted 9 days postoperatively with 2 small (1 cm²) areas of nonadherent graft without purulence, but she succumbed from rapid irreversible sepsis. Culture of debrided Integra grew methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

There are various prophylactic measures that may be taken to prevent the development of infection when using dermal regeneration templates such as Integra. Rigid infection control measures must be exercised, including meticulous wound handling techniques to avoid wound contamination during and after surgery, especially with resistant staphylococcal organisms. Preventive dressing options include nanocrystalline silver products such as Acticoat (silver-coated polyethylene; Smith & Nephew, London, United Kingdom)^42,43 and silver-coated polyurethane negative-pressure wound therapy sponge.^44,45 Antibiotic prophylaxis may also be used.^13,16 The use of these prophylactic measures when employing Integra requires prospective investigation.

CONCLUSIONS

While Integra offers many crucial benefits, such as better chance for revascularization than a direct skin graft in certain situations, the surgeon should be aware that infectious complications are not uncommon. As a result, a careful risk–benefit analysis of its use in reconstruction must be performed, and informed consent openly discussing the risk of infection with the patient is paramount. However rare, acknowledging the possibility of toxic shock syndrome as a complication is crucial in early recognition and expedient life-saving surgical and medical intervention.