# Facial Burn Healing With a Polylactic Acid Dermal Matrix: A Case Report on Wound Modulation and Graft-Free Epithelialization

## TL;DR

A new synthetic material helped heal a deep facial burn without needing a skin graft, showing promise for future burn treatments.

## Contribution

This is the first reported use of a polylactic acid dermal matrix for deep facial burns without grafting.

## Key findings

- The PLA matrix provided rapid pain relief and early vascularization in a facial burn case.
- Full epithelialization occurred within 5 weeks without the need for skin grafting.
- Histology and thermography showed improved healing and perfusion with the matrix.

## Abstract

Due to their functional and aesthetic implications, facial burns pose significant clinical challenges. Alkali burns can further complicate these injuries by causing deep tissue necrosis, which complicates healing and increases the risk of scarring. Traditional management involves early excision and autografting, but challenges such as donor site morbidity and poor aesthetic integration remain. SUPRA SDRM, a fully synthetic, polylactic acid (PLA)-based resorbable dermal matrix, has demonstrated efficacy in different wound types but has not been previously reported in deep burn management. Here, we present the case of a 53-year-old male with deep alkali facial burns managed with SUPRA SDRM. Initially applied as a bridge to grafting, rapid pain relief, and early vascularization led to an alternative treatment course. The matrix formed an adherent synthetic wound barrier, modulating the healing environment and allowing full epithelialization within 5 weeks without the need for grafting. Histology confirmed enhanced angiogenesis and dermal remodeling, while infrared thermography imaging demonstrated changes suggestive of perfusion improvements, which supports the bio-inductive effects of the matrix. This case suggests that PLA-based dermal matrices may serve as a viable alternative to autografting in select deep burns, warranting further investigation into their role in wound modulation, functional outcomes, and resource-limited burn care.