Musculotendinous Tissue Unit Repair and Reinforcement (MTURR) Coordinating Center

Loss of musculotendinous tissue as a result of trauma inevitably leads to severe morbidity for the subject and surgical challenges for the caregiver. The reconstruction of tissue following such injuries is often not possible and surgical options are extremely limited. Amputation of the affected limb is not an uncommon outcome. Free muscle grafts, pedicle grafts, and the use of prosthetic materials have all been attempted when primary repair is not possible due to loss of tissue domain. The results of such efforts are typically disheartening. If autologous grafts are used, donor site morbidity compounds the post surgical problems with resultant diminished quality of life. Stated differently, the existing treatment options for treatment of the loss of large amounts of skeletal muscle tissue with scarring are extremely limited because the existing tendon structures are damaged and lack strength. A Repair and Reinforcement approach with a biocompatible device would represent a paradigm shift in the treatment of traumatic tissue injury. This approach involves releasing scar tissue that constricts movement of the existing tendon, repairing damaged tendon and musculotendinous units with suture repair, and reinforcing the repair with a biologic scaffold material. The biologic scaffold is composed of animal derived collagen and the approved by the FDA as devices for reinforcement of soft tissues repaired by sutures or suture anchors, during tendon repair surgery." Additionally, as listed in the FDA 510k approval, these devices" provide a remodelable scaffold that is replaced by the subject's own soft tissues." These biologic materials fall into a category of implantable devices known as extracellular matrix (ECM) because they are composed of proteins that surround the cellular elements in mammals. No living cells are found in these ECM implantable devices. ECM devices are made by many commercial manufacturers and have been used for a variety of reconstructive surgical procedures for years. Because the ECM implant becomes populated with subject cells and blood vessels, the repair may be stronger and the new tissue growing within the device could possibly contribute to improved function by augmenting the tendon structure and allowing ingrowth of adjacent muscle fibers. The objective of the study is to assess mechanical strength and function in subjects undergoing Musculotendinous Tissue Unit Repair and Reinforcement (MTURR) with the use of biologic scaffolds for the restoration of both mechanical strength and function in these subjects. This study will formally evaluate healing and return of function after an extracellular matrix device implantation in 40 male and female subjects participating at 4-5 military sties who suffer from injury with loss of skeletal muscle tissue. The University of Pittsburgh under the Department of Plastic Surgery is the Coordinating Center for this multi-site study.