Enhanced healing of surgical wounds of the lower leg using weekly zinc oxide compression dressings.
BACKGROUND
Management of lower extremity wounds after Mohs micrographic surgery can pose a challenge to the surgeon. Postoperative reactive edema and inflammation can lead to a painful and protracted healing course. Unna boots deliver zinc oxide to the wound bed and surrounding skin while providing compression and occlusion of the wound.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utility of weekly Unna boot therapy in decreasing postoperative edema, inflammation, and morbidity; minimizing postoperative wound care; and improving the rate of wound healing in patients with lower leg surgical defects.


METHODS
Ten patients (6 men, 4 women) aged 72 to 91 with postoperative defects on the distal lower extremity were treated with weekly Unna boots until wounds had sufficiently granulated or re-epithelialized.


RESULTS
In all 10 patients, weekly Unna boot therapy was well tolerated, with high satisfaction levels relating to minimal postoperative wound care, rapid granulation, minimal pain, and excellent esthetic outcome of postoperative wounds. No infections or other complications were noted during the healing process. LIMITATIONS This was not a randomized, controlled trial.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with postoperative wounds of the lower leg, weekly Unna boots significantly improve the healing process, decrease postoperative pain, and minimize wound care.
Vanderbilt University Dermatology, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. william.g.stebbins@vanderbilt.edu
William G
WG
Stebbins
C William
CW
Hanke
Jeffrey
J
Petersen
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058128:Compression Bandages; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D015580:Mohs Surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D014945:Wound Healing; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D015034:Zinc Oxide