The impact of skin grafting on the quality of life and self-esteem of patients with venous leg ulcers.

BACKGROUND

The assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with venous leg ulcers provides important information for clinical decision making, evaluation of therapeutic benefits, and prediction of survival probabilities.

METHODS

Health-related quality of life and self-esteem were assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Rosenberg self-esteem (RSE) scale, respectively, in patients with venous leg ulcers treated with split-thickness skin grafts. One hundred patients with venous leg ulcers and indication for skin grafting were divided into two groups of 50 patients each: the control group (patients who received conservative treatment) and surgery group (patients who received split-thickness skin grafts).

RESULTS

Patients in the surgery group reported significantly higher SF-36 scores (better health status) than controls one month after surgery, as well as 90 and 180 days postoperatively (p < 0.002). The mean total RSE score was significantly lower (indicating higher self-esteem) in the surgery group (mean RSE score, 17.54) than in the control group (mean RSE score, 24.22).

CONCLUSIONS

Split-thickness skin grafting resulted in better health-related quality of life and self-esteem in patients with venous leg ulcers than did compression therapy with Unna's boot.