To evaluate effectiveness of flap surgery in patients of grades 3 and 4 pressure ulcers

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of flap surgery for grades 3 and 4 pressure ulcers. DESIGN AND SETTING: Patients were included in this prospective study conducted in the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, along with the institute’s Paraplegia Unit. The outcome of flap surgery was assessed. PARTICIPANTS: The sample size was of 25 spinal cord injury patients with grades 3 and 4 pressure ulcers. INTERVENTION: After wound preparation, flaps were used to cover the resultant defect. OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome was assessed on the parameters of wound dehiscence, flap necrosis, and recurrence. RESULTS: Points were allotted for the overall outcome assessed over the said parameters, 92% of the patients had excellent outcome and the remaining 8% had a good outcome, proving that flap surgery is extremely effective in management of patients with pressure ulcers. CONCLUSION: Pressure ulcers are a common sequalae of spinal cord injury. Irrespective of the cause, a patient of spinal cord injury would develop a pressure injury at some point of time. Pressure ulcers were best treated with flap surgery, after thorough debridement including dead or necrotic bone, along the special care to positioning.