Wound Outcomes in Negative Pressure Dressings (WOUNDS) - Suction dressings and mobility compared to conventional dressings and bed rest for healing of split skin grafts of the lower leg.

We intend to perform a prospective, randomised control trial on whether negative pressure suction dressings and early ambulation are comparable to or improve split skin graft take over conventional bolster dressings for lower leg wounds. The lower leg is a common site for skin grafts, however healing of the skin of the lower leg can be slow leading to graft failure. Traditionally, a bolster dressing (a padded dressing over the graft) and bed rest for at least five days are recommended. Negative pressure dressings (of which the Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) system is commonly used internationally and in New Zealand) have been used to assist complex wound healing and graft take. The system generates a negative pressure environment which is shown to improve various factors leading to wound healing. However there is a lack of proof for whether such suction dressings improve healing more than the conventional dressings and bed rest techniques for skin grafts. Our study is designed to determine if negative pressure suction dressings and early ambulation are comparable to or improve split skin graft take over conventional bolster dressings and bed-rest for lower leg skin graft wounds.