Salvage of Diabetic Foot by Skin grafting: Our Experience

Dr Sanjay Vaghani; Dr Honeypalsinh H Maharaul; Dr Sagar Vaghela

Volume : VI, Issue : IX, September - 2016

Salvage of Diabetic Foot by Skin grafting: Our Experience

Dr Sanjay Vaghani, Dr Honeypalsinh H Maharaul, Dr Sagar Vaghela

Abstract :

Ulcers are the leading cause of hospitalization in patients with diabetes mellitus and precede approximately 70–80% of all diabetic–related amputations (1, 2) . Timely healing and closure is critical to reducing the cost and morbidity associated with chronic diabetic lower extremity wounds (3–5). Split thickness skin grafts (STSG) are a well–known and widely accepted method for soft tissue coverage of open wounds (6). Historically, this technique has had a significant role in burn wounds and plastic surgery reconstruction, but has also been used successfully in the treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers (7–9). There are a vast number of wound care products and synthetic grafts available to the clinician today, but STSG remain the gold standard and may be considered a first–line treatment for lower extremity wounds associated with diabetes. Despite its common indications, there have been few large studies assessing the use of STSG as a modality for treatment of diabetic foot and leg wounds. Furthermore, few papers have examined the effect of individual patient risk factors on the healing time of STSG in the diabetic population. The aim of this retrospective review was to study the clinical use of STSG in a diabetic population and also identify any risk factors that may affect healing time or lead to complications.