Healing of Radiation-Induced Skin Injury With a Biosynthetic Matrix: A Case Report.

Radiation-induced skin injury is a common sequela after chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma. We provide a case report of treating a moist desquamating wound in the neck with PermeaDerm, consisting of a silicone/nylon bilayer with a bio-coating of gelatin and aloe vera to optimize wound adherence. An 86-year-old man with stage 3 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma was treated with 35 radiation fractions with a total dose of 70 Gray (Gy) to the left tonsil and involved neck nodes and weekly carboplatin. PermeaDerm was applied to the desquamating left neck after the last radiation treatment. The dressing adhered to the moist wound, reducing pain and simplifying wound care. Since the dressing is transparent and can be left in place, it was easy to tell that the wound was healed 6 days later. PermeaDerm is another good option for treating desquamating radiation-induced skin injury. It is easy to apply, transparent, and easy to remove when the wound has re-epithelialized. A great benefit is the dressing is left in place for several days without a need for replacement; the lack of replacement leads to a reduction in pain.