Retrospective observation of surgical and conservative treatment in low-income patients with chronic wound

Eighty-eight patients with chronic wounds with financial difficulties were enrolled in a philanthropic programme implemented in Zhejiang Province (China) from August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022. The patients were divided into surgical and non-surgical groups based on their demographic and wound characteristics, and the outcomes were then compared between the groups. In total, 54 (61.36 %) patients were males and 34 (38.64 %) females. The mean age of the patients was 55.27 ± 19.80 years, and the (81.82 %) had physical disabilities. The most common type of chronic wound was pressure injury (46.59 %), followed by traumatic wounds (19.32 %). In the surgical group, the average hospital stay was 24.50 days (range: 18.00-44.50 days), and the treatment efficacy rate was 76.92 %. In the non-surgical group, the average treatment duration was 35 days (range: 21.75-78.25 days), and the efficacy rate was 51.61 %. The overall wound healing rate was 60 % on the 1-year follow-up. In conclusion, most chronic wound patients were middle-aged or elderly, and pressure injury was the most common wound type. Although dressing change was the most common treatment, surgical treatment could get a better result in large and deep chronic wounds.