Plastic Surgery Treatment of chronic venous Ulcers of the leg

Abstract

The treatment of 113 patients with a total of 178 chronic venous leg ulcers is described. After early radical excision of the ulcer the defect was covered with large split thickness skin grafts, in most cases after a delay which allows for granulation formation. The series has been followed for 3-18 years after treatment and 93 patients with 152 ulcers have been traced. The results were excellent in 62.5%, good in 15.8% and poor in 21.7%. The general treatment as well as the surgical principles used are presented and the results are discussed.