Open AccessPinch Grafting of Leg Ulcers in Primary Care
Author(s) -
Bjarne U. Hansen Rut F. Öien
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
acta dermato-venereologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.982
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1651-2057
pISSN - 0001-5555
DOI - 10.1080/000155598442737
Subject(s) - medicine , skin grafting , surgery , primary care , wound care , venous leg ulcer , family medicine
Treatment of chronic leg ulcers consumes considerable primary care resources. For the patient, it often entails restrictions in everyday life. This study describes the results of 84 skin transplantations on 45 patients with 55 ulcerated limbs, using the pinch graft technique, performed in primary care from 1987-1993. The healing rate after 12 weeks for venous ulcers was 45%, and for neuropathic ulcers 44%. Venous ulcers represented 56% of all the ulcers, while 16% were neuropathic. One year postoperatively, 47% (19/40) of examined ulcers remained healed. The results from our study suggest that venous and neuropathic ulcers may be particularly well suited for skin transplantation, which can easily be performed in primary care.