Evaluation of postage stamp skin grafting in the treatment of non healing leg ulcers

Abstract

Surgical intervention is necessitated when medical management fails in leg ulcers. 30 cases of non healing leg ulcers present for more than 4 weeks were subjected to postage stamp grafting. The grafts were harvested by split thickness skin or pinch grafting techniques. These grafts were cut into postage stamp graft size of 2-3 sq.cm and placed over the prepared ulcer beds. 17(56.70%) ulcers were vascular (venous 14, arterial 3) in origin, while trauma, diabetes and leprosy were responsible in 6(20%), 3(10.0%) and 2(6.70) cases respectively. 2(6.7%) cases had combined etiologies. In 21(70%) cases, ulcers healed completely (Grade I); 7(23.7%) cases healed initially but subsequently broke down (Grade II) while in rest of 2(6.7%) cases, ulcers never healed (Grade III). Success rate was 70%. Two cases of lepromatous leprosy with ENL and varicose veins never healed. Postage stamp skin grafting is a reliable, simple, and easy to master surgical procedure for the management of nonhealing skin ulcers.