BACKGROUND: A man in his 60s with recurrent venous leg ulcers (VLUs) presented with an 18-month history of a VLU on his medial left leg measuring 59.3 cm(2). He had been treated with multi- component compression bandages without significant decrease in ulcer size. Given the ulcer's size, refractory nature, and history of recurrence, the authors sought to optimize the patient's healing. METHODS: Approximately 23% of the total wound was treated using punch grafts (PGs) harvested from different locations on the body based on hair density using the "stick and place" method. RESULTS: One month later, a 56% reduction in ulcer size was observed, especially in the area that received hair-bearing skin. CONCLUSION: Punch grafts from hair-bearing skin are a viable source of follicular stem cells and may be superior to PG from nonhair-bearing skin for the treatment of chronic wounds.
BACKGROUND: A man in his 60s with recurrent venous leg ulcers (VLUs) presented with an 18-month history of a VLU on his medial left leg measuring 59.3 cm(2). He had been treated with multi- component compression bandages without significant decrease in ulcer size. Given the ulcer's size, refractory nature, and history of recurrence, the authors sought to optimize the patient's healing. METHODS: Approximately 23% of the total wound was treated using punch grafts (PGs) harvested from different locations on the body based on hair density using the "stick and place" method. RESULTS: One month later, a 56% reduction in ulcer size was observed, especially in the area that received hair-bearing skin. CONCLUSION: Punch grafts from hair-bearing skin are a viable source of follicular stem cells and may be superior to PG from nonhair-bearing skin for the treatment of chronic wounds.
Authors: Olivera Stojadinovic; Tongyu C Wikramanayake; Alexandra C Villasante Fricke; Natalie C Yin; Liang Liang; Eleanor Hinde; Julia Escandon; Marjana Tomic-Canic; David M Ansell; Ralf Paus; Joaquin J Jimenez Journal: Heliyon Date: 2017-05-30