AbstractBackground: Venous diseases are predominant causes of lower extremity venous ulcers. Inspite of effective treatment by compression therapy, these patients have psychosocial issues such as anxiety, depression, and social deprivation. These distressing symptoms are due to persistence of ulcer with exudation for longer duration, continuous pain, loss of work, and cost to the wound care.
Aims and Objectives: To study the response of skin grafting for venous ulcer plus surgical treatment for superficial varicose veins simultaneously.
Materials and Methods: 37 patients who had findings of venous ulcers along with varicose veins were selected for the study. Patients were treated conservatively for 5 -7 days followed by surgical intervention of venous ulcer and varicose veins simultaneously. The response to treatment was evaluated in terms of duration of ulcer healing and improvement of pain.
Results: The duration of hospital stay was 8-12 days (mean=9.8). The preoperative days used for ulcer bed preparation varying from 3-7 days (mean=4.2). The patients were in the age group of 40-75years (Mean= 57). Maximum patients were in the age group of 55-65 years. The duration of the ulcers was varying from 6 months to 7 years (Mean= 3.7 years). The ulcers size was varying from 2x1cm to 17x11cm. In 34 (91.89%) patients, the graft was taken completely. In 3 patient (8.1%), there was partial graft take (approx. 65-85% ulcer area). There were no cases of skin graft rejection. At the second follow up period (45 days), 32 patients were completely pain free and remaining 5 patients had partial relief.
Conclusion: There is high success rate in terms of healing the ulcer in a short duration and decreases the pain at the earliest. No recurrence of the ulcer was observed.
Keywords: Venous Ulcer; Varicose Veins; Saphenofemoral Junction; Elastic Compression Bandage.