Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of dermal substitute materials combined with vacuum sealing drainage(VSD) technique on the repair of tendon-exposed wound in patients with diabetes mellitus(DM). 
Methods The clinical data of 8 DM patients with tendon-exposed wound that were treated with acellular dermal matrix(ADM) in People′s Hospital of Anyang City were collected and they were enrolled as ADM group. The clinical data of 12 DM patients with tendon-exposed wound treated with artificial dermis(AD) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University for the treatment of tendon-exposed wound were collected and they were enrolled as AD group. After wound debridement, the exposed tendon was covered with AD or ADM, and the second stage of autologous blade thickness skin graft was performed, combined with the application of closed negative pressure drainage technology. The times of skin grafting, the interval of transplantation, the survival of skin graft at 7 d after skin grafting, hospitalization cost, the incidence of postoperative complications and the recurrence of ulceration in the operation area at 3 months of follow-up were observed. 
Results There was no significant difference in the number of skin grafting, survival rate of skin graft, postoperative complications and postoperative follow-up between two groups(P＞0.05). The average transplantation interval in ADM group was less than that in AD group, and the average hospitalization cost was higher than that in AD group(P＜0.05). 
Conclusion Dermal substitute materials combined with vacuum sealing drainage technique is an effective avenue to repair the wounds of tendon-exposed wound. ADM and AD have their own advantages and disadvantages， which should be selected according to the actual condition.

Key words: artificial dermis, acellular dermal matrix, diabetes, tendon exposure