The impact of skin grafting on the quality of life and self-esteem of patients with venous leg ulcers.
BACKGROUND
The assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with venous leg ulcers provides important information for clinical decision making, evaluation of therapeutic benefits, and prediction of survival probabilities.


METHODS
Health-related quality of life and self-esteem were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Rosenberg self-esteem (RSE) scale, respectively, in patients with venous leg ulcers treated with split-thickness skin grafts. One hundred patients with venous leg ulcers and indication for skin grafting were divided into two groups of 50 patients each: the control group (patients who received conservative treatment) and surgery group (patients who received split-thickness skin grafts).


RESULTS
Patients in the surgery group reported significantly higher SF-36 scores (better health status) than controls one month after surgery, as well as 90 and 180 days postoperatively (p < 0.002). The mean total RSE score was significantly lower (indicating higher self-esteem) in the surgery group (mean RSE score, 17.54) than in the control group (mean RSE score, 24.22).


CONCLUSIONS
Split-thickness skin grafting resulted in better health-related quality of life and self-esteem in patients with venous leg ulcers than did compression therapy with Unna's boot.
Department of Surgery, Sapucaí Valley University (UNIVÁS), Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brazil, gsalome@infinitetrans.com.
Geraldo M
GM
Salomé
Leila
L
Blanes
Lydia M
LM
Ferreira
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult