Novosorb® Biodegradable Temporising Matrix (BTM) and its Applications

The NovoSorb® Biodegradable Temporising Matrix (BTM) (PolyNovo Biomaterials Pty Ltd, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is a fully synthetic dermal matrix that can be used to reconstruct complex wounds. It consists of a 2mm-thick NovoSorb® biodegradable polyurethane open-cell foam covered by a non-biodegradable scaling member. Application involves a two-stage procedure. In the first stage, BTM is laid onto a clean wound bed, and in the second stage, the sealing membrane is removed and a split skin graft is applied to the neo-dermis. BTM has been used to reconstruct deep dermal and full-thickness burns, necrotising fasciitis, and free flap donor sites in the early phase. This review documents examples from a comprehensive series of cases in which BTM was applied to a wide range of complex wounds, ranging from hand and fingertip injury, to Dupuytren's surgery, chronic ulcers, post excision of cutaneous malignancies, and hidradenitis suppurativa. BTM can be applied to a wide range of complex wounds which may otherwise require a more challenging reconstruction. It should be considered an important adjunct to the reconstructive ladder.