A PROSPECTIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE HEALING OF GRAFTED PRETIBIAL WOUNDS WITH EARLY AND LATE MOBILIZATION

The aims of this study were to determine whether early mobilisation de lays wound healing after meshed split skin graft repair of pretibial w ounds and to identify other factors delaying the healing of these woun ds. A prospective randomised controlled trial was conducted to compare the time to complete healing of patients mobilised early (the first p ostoperative day) against those who mobilised late (the tenth postoper ative day). There was no difference in time to complete healing. Patie nts with a history of oral steroid therapy had a mean delay in wound h ealing of approximately 8 days (p < 0.02). The severity of tissue dama ge, as indicated by undermining of the skin margins, damage to the fas cia and exposure of the periosteum, correlated with delayed wound heal ing (p < 0.05).