Skin grafting for venous skin ulcer

Skin grafting can be an effective treatment for a large, difficult-to-heal venous skin ulcer. A skin graft stimulates healing by triggering skin cell growth in the wound site.¹ Various types of tissue are used for skin grafting, including:

• A dressing derived from one's own skin cells, called an autograft, placed on the wound. Other types of autograft (called split- or partial-thickness skin grafts) graft skin from one part of the body to another. Studies report that up to 75% of chronic skin ulcers heal with split-thickness skin grafts.¹
• A bioengineered human skin equivalent, or allograft. Studies show that allografts significantly improve healing in deep venous skin ulcers. However, allografts did not significantly improve healing of small ulcers over the use of compression therapy alone.²
• Preserved animal skin, often from a pig, called a xerograft.

If you have a long-standing venous skin ulcer, discuss skin grafting with your health professional. Depending on your condition, you may be a candidate for this type of treatment. However, there are no guarantees that skin grafting will work for you.

Citations

1. Valencia IC, et al. (2001). Chronic venous insufficiency and venous leg ulceration. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 44(3): 401–421.

2. Phillips TJ (2001). Current approaches to venous ulcers and compression. Dermatologic Surgery, 27(7): 611–621.