Effectiveness Of Excision And Meshed Split Skin Graft On Elephantiasis

Objection. With the improvement of modern lymphology, the therapies for chronic advanced lymphedema become more and more. Each therapy, including non-operative and operative therapy, such as physiologic and excisional operation, has its advantages and disadvantages. Which operative therapy to choose is becoming the focus that surgeons talk about. The aim of the study is to evaluate the long term of skin and subcutaneous excision and meshed split skin graft for treating the patients with chronic advanced lymphedema oflower extremities(i.e. elephantiasis).Method. From 1988 to 1995, 7 patients with elephantiasis were treated by skin and subcutaneous excision and meshed split skin graft. Then we followed up them for a mean period of 8.8 years (6-13 years) and documented their episodic attack and recurrence.Result. 6 patients were cured after a operation; 1 patient s part of skin grafts necrosed and he was cured after second skin graft. All patients continued non-operative therapies at once after they were cured. After a period of 6-13 years being followed up, we found that the circumferences of the extremities were decreased effectively, the overlying skin was softer than ever, the extremities could move well and never had episodic attack.Conclusion: It suggests that skin and subcutaneous excision and meshed split skin graft for treating the patients with elephantiasis is simple and it is effective for the treatment of elephantiasis...