Irrigation treatment of leg ulcers.

Wound healing produced by isotonic saline irrigation via a special dressing was compared with that produced by conventional saline dressings in 12 inpatients with 18 leg ulcers. Patients served as their own controls. Wound cleansing was estimated by fibrin crust disappearance and granulation tissue formation. Both occurred earlier during irrigation. Wound contraction was similar during the two treatments. Wound blood flow, estimated by means of a laser Doppler flowmeter, increased earlier with irrigation.