Study Comparing Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Versus Traditional Dressings for Skin Grafts on the Lower Leg After Skin Tumour Removal

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to compare the effects of negative pressure wound therapy NPWT versus traditional dressings on the rate of transplant infections in adults undergoing split-thickness skin grafting STSG to the lower leg after skin tumour removal. The study also evaluates whether NPWT improves secondary outcomes like graft success, fewer reoperations, reduced complications, and better use of healthcare resources. The trial is a multicentre, randomised controlled study designed to provide clear evidence on postoperative care for lower leg skin grafts. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either NPWT or traditional dressings applied over their skin graft after tumour excision. NPWT uses continuous suction at -125 mmHg with a protective interface until five days after surgery, while traditional dressings involve silicone interface layers and foam with gentle compression left undisturbed for five days. All patients will follow a structured postoperative care and mobilisation schedule to support healing. During the study, participants will attend follow-up visits on days 5 and 14 after surgery and be monitored through medical records for three months postoperatively. Researchers will assess outcomes including transplant infections, graft loss, reoperations, bleeding, complications, mortality, hospital stay length, and healthcare resource use. The total monitoring period spans from surgery until three months afterward to evaluate both primary and secondary outcomes.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Split Thickness Skin Grafting to the Lower Leg After Excision of Skin Tumour: A Multicentre Randomised Study