Granulation-embedded autologous skin grafting improves healing chronic wounds at high altitudes: a pilot study

The management of chronic wounds presents a challenge for surgeons. In this pilot study, the authors established a novel auto-grafting approach for chronic wounds and evaluated its efficacy. The objective of this pilot study was to observe the clinical efficacy of granulation-embedded skin grafting for the treatment of chronic wounds at high altitudes. The data of 45 patients with chronic wounds were obtained from the medical records of the Yushu People's Hospital. Patients were divided into stamp skin-grafting and granulation-embedded skin-grafting groups. Skin graft survival rate, wound coverage rate, and wound-healing time were observed and recorded. The length of hospital stay and 1% total body surface area (TBSA) treatment cost were compared. Significant differences were noted in skin graft survival rate (94% ± 3% vs 86% ± 3%, P < .01), wound coverage rate on postoperative day 7 (61% ± 16% vs 54% ± 18%, P < .01), and wound-healing times (23 ± 2.52 days vs 31 ± 3.61 days, P < .05). The length of hospital stay and 1% TBSA treatment cost were significantly reduced in the granulation-embedded skin grafting group (P < .05). Granulation-embedded skin grafting can improve the healing of chronic wounds at high altitudes. These findings provide a new approach to the clinical treatment of chronic wounds.