Excision of lipodermatosclerotic tissue: An effective treatment for non-healing venous ulcers

In longstanding venous ulcers, the development of lipodermatosclerosis of t he skin surrounding the ulcer is common, According to our clinical experien ce lipodermatosclerosis impairs the opportunities for the ulcer to heal. In this combined retrospective and prospective study the lipodermatosclerotic skin area nas excised in 7 non-healing venous ulcers and then covered with split skin graft. All 7 legs had previously been treated with superficial venous surgery, Laser Doppler scanning of the ulcer area was performed pre- and postoperatively. Five of the 7 ulcers healed within 4 months and 1 hea led within 9 months, Laser Doppler scanning showed increased blood flow in the lipodermatosclerotic skin area, which was decreased after the operation . This study indicates that excision of the lipodermatosclerotic skin area followed by split skin grafting can accomplish healing in non-healing venou s leg ulcers that have failed to respond to previous superficial venous sur gery.