OUTPATIENT OR SHORT-STAY SKIN-GRAFTING WITH EARLY AMBULATION FOR LOWER-EXTREMITY BURNS

Lower-extremity burns and skin grafts to these wounds have traditionally required extended hospitalization. We have used early tangential excision of the burn wounds and application of an Unna boot to fresh skin grafts in an attempt to shorten the hospitalization for such patients. Over a six-month period, 9 patients were treated with Unna boots to fresh skin grafts on the lower extremity. The average hospital stay was 0.9 days (range, 0 to 3 days). Graft take was 85% to 100%; no regrafting was required. Ambulation was begun 24 hours postoperatively. The technique described is a safe, effective, and inexpensive alternative to prolonged immobilization and hospitalization in patients with lower-extremity skin grafts.