Fish Skin Graft to Heal Over Avascular Structures

What this research means for patients

The hardest wounds to close are those with exposed tendon or bone — structures with little blood supply of their own. Skin cannot simply grow across them, which is why these wounds historically meant flaps, prolonged wound-vac therapy, or amputation.

Across four case studies, this poster shows fish skin graft generating healthy granulation tissue directly over exposed tendon and bone — in most cases with only a single graft application and without negative-pressure wound therapy.

For high-risk patients — especially those with diabetes — this technique widens the path to limb preservation when the traditional options are risky or unavailable.