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- Title
Split-thickness Skin Grafting in the Treatment of Surgically Operated Diabetic Foot. A Retrospective 2-Year Study (2010-2011).
- Authors
Vilcu, Mihaela; Catrina, E.; Pătraşcu, T.; Filipovski, Z.; Brezean, I.
- Abstract
Split-thickness skin grafting, a method used in plastic surgery in the treatment of skin defects resulting from surgery, has lately been used more and more widely in the treatment of wounds with significant missing tissue occurring in the evolution of diabetic foot pathology; at the same time, it is a highly controversial topic as regards its long-term effectiveness in diabetic patients. Material and method: This is a presentation of a retrospective 2-year study (2010-2011) involving 44 diabetic patients with post-surgical skin defects in the lower limb who underwent split-thickness skin grafting. Objectives: The aim of the analysis was to identify the causes influencing the success or failure of the graft in the 44 diabetic patients who, apart from different vasculopathies or neuropathies, also have significant comorbidities. Outcome: Out of the 44 patients, 11 female (25%) and 33 male (75%), 36 had successful grafts (82%) and in 8 cases (18%) the graft failed. After surgery, the patients were monitored weekly in the first month, then monthly, and then eveiy 2 months up to 2 years. Average healing time was between 2 and 8 weeks. The following aspects were analyzed: breakdown according to gender and patient background, length of hospitalization relative to the defect site, the degree of anemia, the levels of glycated hemoglobin and fasting glucose, the area of the skin defect, comorbidities, smoking, microbial flora in the recipient site right before grafting. All of these aspects were correlated with the rate of success or failure of the graft. The cost of hospitalization was compared between the two groups. Conclusions: The results of this retrospective study indicate that split-thickness skin grafting should be a method of choice in reducing the healing time for skin defects in patients with surgically operated diabetic foot.
- Subjects
SKIN grafting; TREATMENT of diabetic foot; NEUROPATHY; COMORBIDITY; HOSPITAL costs; PATIENTS
- Publication
Medicina Moderna, 2014, Vol 21, Issue 3, p158
- ISSN
1223-0472
- Publication type
Article