Randomization and Blinding
Prior to randomization, the surgeon selected two similar wound areas. Treatment allocation of the experimental and control sites was concealed in an envelope, which remained sealed up until the stage of wound bed coverage. The operated areas were thus randomly treated with either the dermal matrix treatment (dermal matrix plus STSG) or the control treatment (STSG alone). Surgeons were not blinded to the allocated treatment. The patients and researcher were blinded to treatment allocation, although at early time points dermal matrix may have remained visible. To reduce bias, follow-up measurements were not performed by the surgeon who performed the surgery, but by trained researchers or nurses.