Triad surgeon recognized for his innovative work using fish skin

A Triad surgeon is being recognized for his groundbreaking work treating amputees and other patients with fish skin. 

For decades, modern manufacturers have cultivated collagen — the primary building block of our body’s skin, muscles, and bones — from mammals. It’s then used for cosmetic surgery and more. But because this animal tissue is similar to human tissue and can potentially transmit viruses and bacteria, it must undergo extensive processing before it can be used.

To treat his patients, Cone Health orthopedic surgeon Dr. Marcus Duda has been turning to the sea, specifically wild-caught cod off the north shore of Iceland. He says the skins contain essential growth factors that promote healing, particularly in large, contaminated wounds.

"It downregulates the bacteria, downregulates the inflammatory mediators, and it helps the tissue that's kind of 50/50, helps it turn the corner," says Duda. "And so for large life-saving wounds, I've been able to use the fish skin to save legs and save lives." 

Duda says he’s also having success applying the more elastic fish skin on burn victims with no surgery required. Most recently, he’s been experimenting with a combination of bone grafts and fish skin to stimulate more rapid bone growth.