RecruitingHead and Neck CancerHead and Neck Trauma
Skin Color Matching in Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery
Eligible age
18+ yrs
Accepts
All genders
Locations
1 state
Healthy volunteers
No
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About this study
This study will examine whether cutaneous reconstruction with RECELL® atop de-epithelialized tissue provides better skin color matching than standard grafting methods. The goal is to compare color match, healing, and patient satisfaction across three reconstruction techniques. Color matching will be assessed using colorimeter-based ΔE00 measurements at set postoperative intervals. All patients will receive the same intervention.
Sponsor: Yale University
You may qualify if…
- ✓ Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
- ✓ Ability to understand and respond to patient-reported outcome measures in English
- ✓ Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
- ✓ Subjects aged ≥18 may be included, provided they or their legal guardian are able to provide informed consent or assent in accordance with institutional policies
- ✓ Is deemed a suitable candidate for head and neck reconstructive surgery, the basis of which will be determined by the surgeon performing the procedure as well as pre-operative assessment by the anesthesiology team
- ✓ Possessing a cutaneous defect of a size, location, and depth deemed appropriate for either split-thickness skin grafting or de-epithelialized tissue reconstruction, as assessed preoperatively and/or intraoperatively by the surgical team
- ✓ Reconstruction must occur within a clinically appropriate window following defect creation (e.g., immediate or delayed reconstruction within 14 days), depending on institutional protocol and wound status
- ✓ Ability to adhere to post-operative discharge wound care instructions
You may not qualify if…
- ✕ Member of one or more of the following vulnerable populations:
- ✕ Children/under the age of 18: Aesthetic outcomes and satisfaction measures, such as those used in this study (e.g., FACE-Q), are not validated in children and may not yield reliable or interpretable results.
- ✕ Pregnant/lactating individuals: Pregnant and lactating individuals are excluded due to the lack of safety data on RECELL® administration during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- ✕ Incarcerated individuals: The ability to provide fully voluntary and uncoerced consent may be compromised in correctional settings. Furthermore, consistent post-operative follow-up and outcome assessments, critical to the integrity of the study, may not be feasible due to restrictions on transportation, communication, and continuity of care.
- ✕ Cognitively impaired individuals: Cognitively impaired individuals are excluded because they may lack the capacity to provide fully informed consent. Given that study participation involves outcome assessments (e.g., satisfaction surveys), full comprehension and participation are essential, and surrogate consent is not appropriate for this study.
- ✕ Inability to tolerate general anesthesia, or any other circumstance that would render the subject unable to undergo surgical repair of their cutaneous defect
- ✕ Known allergy or hypersensitivity to porcine-derived products or trypsin, which is used in the enzymatic preparation of the RECELL® autologous skin cell suspension
- ✕ Subjects with known severe immunosuppression, poorly controlled diabetes, or other systemic conditions that could impair wound healing or increase infection risk
Where it's recruiting
Connecticut
Guilford · Milford · New Haven
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT07431099 · last updated 2026-05-29