Impact of age in the healing time in myocutaneous and perforator flaps for pelvic pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury.

Introduction: Specific management of people with spinal cord injury has allowed to improve their life expectancy. The objective of this study was to analyze if age was a factor affecting the healing time of surgery for pelvic pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury.

Methods: Retrospective, monocentric study, enrolling all consecutive spinal cord injury participants admitted into a specialized Neurological Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department for surgery for pelvic pressure ulcers during a 5-year period. Participants were divided into two groups, "Young group" patients aged between 18 and 64 years and "Senior group" patients over 65 years of age. Healing time was defined as the time required for complete closure, allowing mobilization of the lower limbs. Data related to the complication rate (dehiscence, hematoma, infection, flap necrosis), medical or psychiatric decompensation, length of stay and time to rehabilitation were collected.

Results: One hundred and fourteen participants were recruited, including 77 participants in the "Young group" and 37 in the "Senior group". In total, 131 pressure ulcers were operated. The median of the healing time was 46 [32.0;68.8] days, with a minimum of 20 days and a maximum of 694 days. Seven participants were considered as healing failures. There was no significant statistical difference between the two groups with 43 days [35.0;52.0] for the "Young group" and 56 days [40.0;80.0] for the "Senior group" (p = 0.44).

Discussion: This study demonstrated no significant difference in postoperative healing time of flaps for pelvic pressure ulcers between participant below and above 65 years of age.