What is Fascia?

Fascia is the medical name for the sheets of thick, white connective tissue that are located throughout the human body. Doctors, especially surgeons, are familiar with the dozens of layers of fascia in the human body. Surgeons often sew layers of fascia together in order to repair lacerations and other defects, since they are strong and hold sutures well.

These layers of fascia wrap around most of the internal structures of the human body, packaging them tight and keeping them in place and in the proper relationship to each other. Organs like the heart and lungs are wrapped in fascia or fascia-like membranes, for instance. Layers of fascia surround most muscles, keeping them isolated from one another. By being enveloped in fascia, muscles that are laying adjacent to each other may still contract independently. Furthermore, the fascia layers give support to the muscle fibers themselves, keeping them in tight bundles so that they can act as a single unit.

What is Fascia Made Of?

Like many tissues in the human body, fascia is largely composed of a single protein known as collagen. This protein is the major substance that gives fascia its durability and strength. The protein collagen is nature's glue or cement that binds different structures. Collagen is found throughout the human body in many natural tissues besides fascia, such as skin, cartilage and tendons. In all instances, the protein collagen performs the same functions. It gives support, holds things together and adds strength.

What are preserved fascia grafts?

A graft is a piece of tissue that is removed from one individual or area of the body and inserted into a different individual or area of the body, usually as part of a surgical procedure. In the case of preserved fascia, the material is removed from a human cadaver donor and then processed and preserved. Each donor is carefully screened for diseases that might commonly be transmitted. Typically, the preservation steps include freeze drying, so that the material can be stored for long periods of time before being used as a graft. Thousands of preserved fascia grafts are implanted every year by many kinds of surgeons for dozens of surgical procedures.

How long do fascia grafts last?

Since fascia is a naturally thick material, it often takes the body many months to digest. Furthermore, the fascia graft is usually invaded by the recipient's own fibroblast cells and collagen, to produce a layer of scar tissue that may appear and function in a fashion that is similar to the original fascia. The resultant material often remains in the area indefinitely and studies have shown that many instances fascia grafts are effective many years, even decades, later.

What happens when Fascian™ is injected?

Fascian™ is a very thick suspension of solid bits of fibrous material. Once it is injected into an area, the liquid in the suspension is absorbed and the residual particles may aggregate locally. This thick material immediately fills the defect into which it is placed.

How does Fascian™ improve fascia grafting?

Before Fascian™ was available, fascia grafting was performed as part of a surgical procedure that usually required an incision in the skin and some dissection of the area to place the graft. Since Fascian™ is injectable, fascia grafting can be performed in some cases without some of these steps.

Where can Fascian™ be injected?

Since Fascian™ is a tissue product as classified by the FDA, physicians may use Fascian™ as they see fit. Fascian™ is intended for the repair of small surgical defects resulting from either medical or surgical conditions- those in which preserved fascia would otherwise be considered an appropriate treatment option.

What type of of pre-evaluation is required?

Test insertion in a remote area of the body, to pre-evaluate the reaction to the material is usually unnecessary with fascia grafts.

Is Fascian™ FDA approved?

Since Fascian™ is a tissue product and has been classified by the FDA as such, it does not require approval as the FDA does not "approve" tissue products. However, our facility and production methods are governed by FDA regulations and have been inspected.