title: A new approach in the management of chronic nonhealing leg ulcers.
abstract: Chronic leg ulcers are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen treatment is being evaluated in the management of nonhealing leg ulcers to improve skin graft survival. Twenty-seven patients with 36 chronic leg ulcers were examined. Each wound received 12 preoperative hyperbaric oxygen treatments, split-thickness skin grafting, followed by 12 postoperative hyperbaric oxygen treatments. Wound transcutaneous oxygen tension measurements (TCOM) were taken. The graft take was evaluated. At 18 months follow-up, 18 skin grafts (50%) showed complete take, 15 (41.7%) demonstrated partial take, and 3 (8.3%) failed. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is an effective adjunct in the management of chronic leg ulcers, and its use resulted in increased graft take and survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Michigan State University, Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008, USA. saber@kcms.msu.edu
authors.forename: Alan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Saber
authors.forename: Kareem Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Yahya
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cioroiu
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tornambe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016038:Skin Transplantation