Meshed skin graft versus split thickness skin graft in diabetic ulcer coverage

Abstract

Objective: To compare results of skin graft healing in diabetic ulcers between the meshed skin graft method and split thickness skin graft method. Duration of complete skin graft healing in both groups was recorded. The relations between ulcer size and complete skin graft healing duration were analyzed.

Patients and method: This research used a prospective randomized controlled study with 80 diabetic ulcer patients from January 2002-June 2003. Thirty-eight cases were treated by the meshed skin graft method with expansion ratio 1:3 and another 42 cases were treated with the ordinary split-thickness skin.

Results: The means of complete healing duration were 19.84 +/- 7.37 days in the meshed skin group and 20.36 +/- 7.21 days in the normal split-thickness skin graft group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in duration of complete graft healing and efficacy of treatment. The cosmetic result was accepted in both skin graft methods. There was no statistically significant difference between wound size and complete skin graft healing duration.

Conclusion: The meshed skin graft method is as good for diabetic ulcer coverage as the ordinary split thickness skin graft.