Unique Extracellular Matrix Used in Patient Successfully Treated for Flesh Eating Bacteria

COLUMBIA, Md., April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A patient diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis was successfully treated and discharged after ACell MatriStem was used in an effort to save her leg from amputation, reported Marcie Fraser of Your News Now.

Jonna Rue went to the hospital when her foot became blood-red and swollen. A flesh eating bacteria was quickly destroying the tissues in her leg. Doctors intervened surgically to remove a great deal of tissue in an attempt to stop the bacteria from spreading. Amputation of her lower leg was considered due to the extent of damage to her leg.

"Given the amount of overall tissue loss, it was not looking promising to keep her leg," Dr. Peter Fisk, Community Care General Surgeon said.

The wound was treated and MatriStem, the only commercially available form of urinary bladder matrix (UBM), was applied. Six weeks after the extracellular matrix (ECM) was applied to the patient's leg, the tissue was healed enough to skin graft and close the wound. The physician determined that amputation was no longer necessary.

"It is quite a grounding moment when we learn that our products have been used to help patients like Ms. Rue and are happy that she is recovering nicely. It is with a sense of pride and excitement to see the clinical outcomes when our technology is used to treat patients," Rodney Bosley, ACell President & COO said. "Results like these are driving our growth following the record product sales ACell achieved in 2012."

Necrotizing fasciitis, a rare condition of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, can rapidly spread across the body, leading to amputation or death.

MatriStem Products are porcine-derived extracellular matrix that maintain and support a healing environment through constructive remodeling, are available by prescription only in particle and sheet forms. Refer to IFU supplied with each device for indications, contraindications, and precautions.

About ACell  ACell, Inc. offers the next generation of regenerative medicine through the development and commercialization of unique extracellular matrix products to repair and remodel damaged tissues in a broad range of applications. ACell's patented ECM devices address important clinical needs, while providing safe, effective, economical and therapeutic outcomes to the wound care and surgical communities. These devices, trademarked as MatriStem, are appropriate for acute wounds, chronic wounds and various surgical procedures. All MatriStem devices are made in the USA. For more information, call (800) 826-2926 or visit www.acell.com.

SOURCE ACell, Inc.