Skin grafting followed by low-molecular-weight heparin long-term therapy in chronic venous leg ulcers

Abstract

Background: Venous leg ulcers are responsible for more than half of lower extremity ulcerations, with an overall prevalence ranging from 0.06 to 2% in the general population.

Methods: A total number of 120 patients with chronic venous leg ulcers (CEAP C6), secondary to primary chronic venous insufficiency, were recruited (81 F, 39 M, age range: 50-79, mean age: 64.6). All patients enrolled in this study had wounds that had failed to heal for more than 2 months and were refractory to conventional medical and physical therapy. Sixty patients (group A) underwent skin grafting followed by low-molecular-weight heparin long-term therapy. Sixty patients (group B) underwent skin grafting as sole procedure. The follow-up was of 5 years.

Results: At hospital discharge, all patients had healed ulcers. In group A, at 5 years, about 90% of the ulcers remained healed. In group B, at 5 years, about 56% of the ulcers remained healed.

Conclusions: In our experience, long-term treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin seems to have improved early and late results of patients, who underwent reconstructive surgery for chronic venous ulcer; 90% of the ulcers remained healed at 5 years of follow-up. Probably, extracellular matrix-modulating treatments, such as heparin administration, may complete the management strategy for difficult-to-heal or chronic wounds.