Bioresorbable Polylactic Acid Matrix for Chronic Non-Healing Wounds: First Clinical Experience in Europe

Megas, Ioannis-Fivos; Fuchs, Paul Christian; Pinterits, Florian; Jain, Akshay Mrigendra; Fikatas, Panagiotis; Habild, Götz; Delavari, Sarina; Breidung, David

doi:10.3390/jpm16010010

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Bioresorbable Polylactic Acid Matrix for Chronic Non-Healing Wounds: First Clinical Experience in Europe

by

Ioannis-Fivos Megas

^1,2

,

Paul Christian Fuchs

^3,4

,

Florian Pinterits

¹,

Akshay Mrigendra Jain

¹,

Panagiotis Fikatas

^2,5,

Götz Habild

¹,

Sarina Delavari

^6,† and

David Breidung

^4,7,*,†

¹

Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Center of Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery and Microsurgery, Evangelisches Waldkrankenhaus Spandau, Stadtrandstraße 555, 13589 Berlin, Germany

²

Department of Surgery, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Königin Elisabeth Herzberge, Herzbergstraße 79, 10365 Berlin, Germany

³

Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Hand and Burn Surgery, Merheim Medical Centre Cologne, University of Witten/Herdecke, 51109 Cologne, Germany

⁴

Department of Health, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58455 Witten, Germany

⁵

Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte and Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany

⁶

Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery, Center for Severe Burn Injuries, Paracelsus Medical University, Klinikum Nürnberg, Breslauer Str. 201, 90471 Nuremberg, Germany

⁷

Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

J. Pers. Med. 2026, 16(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm16010010

Submission received: 12 November 2025 / Revised: 26 December 2025 / Accepted: 30 December 2025 / Published: 31 December 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plastic Surgery: New Perspectives and Innovative Techniques)

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Bioresorbable polylactic acid (PLA) matrices have shown promise in supporting wound healing through their biocompatibility, tissue integration, and potential involvement in immune regulatory mechanisms. This study aimed to analyze the clinical performance of a PLA-based matrix in the treatment of chronic wounds under real-world conditions in a single-center setting. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with chronic wounds treated with the polylactic acid matrix at Evangelisches Waldkrankenhaus Spandau between February 2023 and February 2025. Wounds were surgically debrided in the operating room prior to matrix application. The matrix remained in place until resorption or detachment, with reapplications occurring at a mean interval of approximately 14 days. Data was anonymized and analyzed descriptively. Results: A total of 14 patients with 16 chronic wounds were treated in this study. The mean patient age was 76.1 years. The most common underlying causes were ischemia and trauma, with an average wound size of 23.6 cm². Complete wound closure was achieved in 15 out of 16 cases (93.8%), with a mean time to complete wound closure of 72.9 days. The average duration of hospitalization was 24.8 days. Conclusions: The polylactic acid matrix demonstrated a high rate of short-term wound closure in a heterogeneous cohort of chronic wounds, with a mean time to closure of 73 days and no requirement for skin grafting. Further prospective studies with standardized long-term follow-up are warranted.

Keywords: polylactic acid; chronic wounds; venous leg ulcer; wound healing; wound closure matrix

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MDPI and ACS Style

Megas, I.-F.; Fuchs, P.C.; Pinterits, F.; Jain, A.M.; Fikatas, P.; Habild, G.; Delavari, S.; Breidung, D. Bioresorbable Polylactic Acid Matrix for Chronic Non-Healing Wounds: First Clinical Experience in Europe. J. Pers. Med. 2026, 16, 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm16010010

AMA Style

Megas I-F, Fuchs PC, Pinterits F, Jain AM, Fikatas P, Habild G, Delavari S, Breidung D. Bioresorbable Polylactic Acid Matrix for Chronic Non-Healing Wounds: First Clinical Experience in Europe. Journal of Personalized Medicine. 2026; 16(1):10. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm16010010

Chicago/Turabian Style

Megas, Ioannis-Fivos, Paul Christian Fuchs, Florian Pinterits, Akshay Mrigendra Jain, Panagiotis Fikatas, Götz Habild, Sarina Delavari, and David Breidung. 2026. "Bioresorbable Polylactic Acid Matrix for Chronic Non-Healing Wounds: First Clinical Experience in Europe" Journal of Personalized Medicine 16, no. 1: 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm16010010

APA Style

Megas, I.-F., Fuchs, P. C., Pinterits, F., Jain, A. M., Fikatas, P., Habild, G., Delavari, S., & Breidung, D. (2026). Bioresorbable Polylactic Acid Matrix for Chronic Non-Healing Wounds: First Clinical Experience in Europe. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 16(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm16010010

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