Skeletal Muscle Restoration Following Volumetric Muscle Loss: The Therapeutic Effects of a Biologic Surgical Mesh

Biologic surgical meshes composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) are a promising treatment option for volumetric muscle loss (VML). The advantages of ECM-based therapies include the lack of a requirement for exogenous stem cell delivery and stimulation of a constructive, pro-healing immune response. This acellular approach lowers the regulatory and technical hurdles associated with stem cell administration, has superior outcomes compared to physical therapy alone or muscle grafting, and has the potential to improve quality of life by promoting functional myogenesis. This chapter reviews the current standard of care for VML and the preclinical and clinical studies supporting the use of biologic mesh as an inductive myogenesis template.