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Published on: March 25, 2020
Assessing the Efficacy of Compression Therapy on Second Intention Wound Healing After Dermatologic Surgery: A
Luke A Scherz1, Carissa C Walkosak1, Michael A Renzi2
1Department of Dermatology, Cooper Center for Dermatologic Surgery, Evesham, New Jersey.
Background:
Second intention healing (SIH) is an approach for lower extremity wounds after dermatologic surgery. Compression therapy has shown benefits in chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulcers, but its efficacy in promoting healing in lower extremity wounds healing by secondary intention is unclear.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of compression stockings on wound healing time and postoperative complication rates in patients undergoing dermatologic surgery on the distal lower extremity with defects allowed to heal by SIH.
Methods:
A prospective, randomized clinical trial was conducted with 40 patients randomized to either standard wound care or compression therapy. The compression group wore knee-length compression stockings for at least 12 hours daily. The primary outcome was time to complete reepithelialization.
Results:
The average time to complete reepithelialization was 9.48 weeks for the compression group and 10 weeks for the standard care group, with no statistically significant difference ( p = .40). Healing times were stratified by wound size, with no significant differences observed between groups.
Conclusion:
Compression therapy did not significantly improve healing times or reduce complication rates in patients without chronic venous insufficiency undergoing SIH after dermatologic surgery. While compression therapy is safe and well-tolerated, its benefits may be limited to specific populations.
