Family refusal of skin donation for transplantation: trends and associated factors.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze the trends and factors associated with family refusal of skin donation for transplantation. METHODS: this cross-sectional study was conducted in the State of São Paulo, with family authorization terms collected from 2001 to 2020. The variables analyzed included year, age, gender, cause of death, and type of institution. Data were analyzed using linear and multiple logistic regression, with the Odds Ratio estimated at p<0.05 for statistical significance. RESULTS: 1,355 individuals refused skin donation. The trend of refusals decreased between 2001 and 2009 in the age groups of 0-11 years and 12-19 years, but increased in the group aged ≥60 years. This trend continued to decrease in the 0-11 years group from 2010 to 2020, and increased in the 20-40 years group. Males and the age groups of 20-40 years, 41-59 years, and ≥60 years exhibited 27%, 34%, 47%, and 53% lower chances of refusal, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: there is an urgent need for measures to mitigate the high number of refusals associated with skin donation.

Granulation-embedded autologous skin grafting improves healing chronic wounds at high altitudes: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The management of chronic wounds presents a challenge for surgeons. In this pilot study, the authors established a novel auto-grafting approach for chronic wounds and evaluated its efficacy. PURPOSE: The objective of this pilot study was to observe the clinical efficacy of granulation-embedded skin grafting for the treatment of chronic wounds at high altitudes. METHODS: The data of 45 patients with chronic wounds were obtained from the medical records of the Yushu People's Hospital. Patients were divided into stamp skin-grafting and granulation-embedded skin-grafting groups. Skin graft survival rate, wound coverage rate, and wound-healing time were observed and recorded. The length of hospital stay and 1% total body surface area (TBSA) treatment cost were compared. RESULTS: Significant differences were noted in skin graft survival rate (94% ± 3% vs 86% ± 3%, P < .01), wound coverage rate on postoperative day 7 (61% ± 16% vs 54% ± 18%, P < .01), and wound-healing times (23 ± 2.52 days vs 31 ± 3.61 days, P < .05). The length of hospital stay and 1% TBSA treatment cost were significantly reduced in the granulation-embedded skin grafting group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Granulation-embedded skin grafting can improve the healing of chronic wounds at high altitudes. These findings provide a new approach to the clinical treatment of chronic wounds.

Covering skin defects with a xenogeneic collagen matrix in comparison with a skin graft - A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

The objective of this study was to analyze, in a randomized controlled multicenter trial, whether a xenogeneic collagen matrix (XCM) could be used to cover skin defects. Patients with the need for skin excisions were recruited and randomized to treatment with a skin graft after a period of granulation or to treatment with an XCM. The results were evaluated by two independent observers on the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale. On this scale, scars are ranked from 1 to 10 in six different categories. Results range from 6 to 60, with lower scores representing scars closer to normal skin. The results 6 months after reconstruction were used as primary endpoint and compared in a non-inferiority approach. A total of 39 wounds in the head and neck region were analyzed. The mean results were 16.55 (standard deviation 6.8) for XCM and 16.83 (standard deviation 8.21) in the control group. The result of the XCM was not significantly inferior to the result of the skin graft (p = 0.91). Within the limitations of the study, it seems that the use of xenogeneic collagen matrices is a viable alternative to other approaches in small skin defects, and therefore should be taken into account whenever the reduction of patient morbidity to a minimum is the priority. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register under registration identification number DRKS00010930 and can be found under the following URLs: https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00010930. https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=DRKS00010930.

Surgical Management of Iatrogenic Mercury Poisoning From Subcutaneous Injection Into the Arm.

BACKGROUND: Mercury, an element with threats of severe toxic insult to humans and no biological function, has a surprisingly extensive record of human exposure. Regardless of hesitancies toward its harmfulness, it has been historically identified with an almost supernatural power to provide protection from evil and sickness, give good fortune, lend aid in athletic undertakings, or even allow one to achieve immortality. Mercury poisoning is an iatrogenic disease even today as people attempt to achieve these effects through volitional injections into their body by practitioners. Although an uncommon practice in the United States, awareness of patient presentation after volitional injections of elemental mercury is necessary for appropriate treatment of these patients. We aim to increase awareness of the cultural practice of subcutaneous injections of mercury, as it is uncommonly seen in the United States, to contribute a broader understanding to the patient's medical presentation and describe an approach and the impact of medical and surgical intervention. METHODS: In this report, we describe a rare case of elemental mercury poisoning secondary to volitional subcutaneous injection to the arm. Initial management of care through chelation therapy and monitoring of renal and serum mercury levels in addition to symptoms of systemic spread was overseen by an internal medicine physician and poison control. Surgical intervention via full-thickness excision of the visible mercury to the right arm followed by local flap and skin grafting reconstruction was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Mercury poisoning from intentional subcutaneous administration is an uncommon patient presentation in the United States; however, knowledge of management of this rare condition is important for effective management of iatrogenic mercury toxicity.

Graft-Specific Regulatory T Cells for Long-Lasting, Local Tolerance Induction.

BACKGROUND: Solid organ transplantation is hindered by immune-mediated chronic graft dysfunction and the side effects of immunosuppressive therapy. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial for modulating immune responses post-transplantation; however, the transfer of polyspecific Tregs alone is insufficient to induce allotolerance in rodent models. METHODS: To enhance the efficacy of adoptive Treg therapy, we investigated different immune interventions in the recipients. By utilizing an immunogenic skin transplant model and existing transplantation medicine reagents, we facilitated the clinical translation of our findings. Specifically, antigen-specific Tregs were used. RESULTS: Our study demonstrated that combining the available induction therapies with drug-induced T-cell proliferation due to lymphopenia effectively increased the Treg/T effector ratios. This results in significant Treg accumulation within the graft, leading to long-term tolerance after the transfer of antigen-specific Tregs. Importantly, all the animals achieved operational tolerance, which boosted the presence of adoptively transferred Tregs within the graft. CONCLUSIONS: This protocol offers a means to establish tolerance by utilizing antigen-specific Tregs. These results have promising implications for future trials involving adoptive Treg therapy in organ transplantation.

Allosensitisation in NHP results in cross-reactive anti-SLA antibodies not detected by a lymphocyte-based flow cytometry crossmatch.

Xenotransplantation is a potential option for individuals for whom an acceptable human allograft is unavailable. Individuals with broadly reactive HLA antibodies due to prior exposure to foreign HLA are potential candidates for a clinical xenotransplant trial. It remains controversial if allosensitisation results in the development of cross-reactive antibodies against SLA. This may require increased histocompatibility scrutiny for highly sensitised individuals prior to enrollment in a clinical trial. Serum samples were obtained from non-human primates sensitised via serial skin transplantation from maximally MHC-mismatched donor, as reported. Sera from pre- and post-allosensitisation timepoints were assessed in a flow crossmatch (FXM) for IgM and IgG binding to pig splenocytes with or without red blood cell adsorption. Xenoreactive antibodies were eluted from pig splenocytes and screened on a single antigen HLA bead assay. A MHC Matchmaker algorithm was developed to predict potential conserved amino acid motifs among the pig, NHP, and human. Our sensitised NHP model was used to demonstrate that allosensitisation does not result in an appreciable difference in xenoreactive antibody binding in a cell-based FXM. However, antibody elution and screening on single antigen HLA beads suggest the existence of potential cross-reactive antibodies against SLA. The cross-reactive IgG after allosensitisation were predicted by comparing the recipient Mamu alleles against its previous allograft donor Mamu alleles and the donor pig SLA alleles. Our study suggests that allosensitisation could elevate cross-reactive antibodies, but a more sensitive assay than a cell-based FXM is required to detect them. The MHC Matchmaker algorithm was developed as a potential tool to help determine amino acid motif conservation and reactivity pattern.

Continuous negative-pressure wound therapy improves the survival rate of skin grafts and shortens the time required for skin graft survival.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in skin graft fixation has been demonstrated in several clinical studies. However, in vitro and in vivo studies on skin graft fixation with NPWT have been scarce. In this in vivo study, we aimed to determine whether NPWT fixation enhances skin graft survival and how it contributes to improving skin graft survival biologically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We harvested skin from the bilateral abdominal wall of 88 mice after anesthetizing them. Full-thickness skin grafts (FTSGs) were performed on contralateral harvest sites, and grafts were fixed using NPWT (continuous and intermittent modes), conventional compression methods, and wrapping with polyurethane foam as a control group. On days 5 and 10 of grafting, the survival rates of the FTSGs were evaluated. Immunohistopathological analysis and measurement of the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were performed. RESULTS: The survival rates of FTSG in the continuous NPWT group were significantly higher than those in the other groups. The number of capillaries in the dermis was significantly higher in the continuous NPWT group than in the other groups. In the wound bed, VEGF levels were significantly higher in both NPWT groups than in the other groups. CONCLUSION: Continuous NPWT increases the survival rate of FTSGs and shortens the duration of skin graft survival.

A Prospective Study of Contracture of the Finger and its Management in a Tertiary Care Center.

BACKGROUND: When the range of motion between two finger segments, both active and passive, is restricted, finger contracture occurs. The aim of this study is to investigate the best procedure to eliminate finger contracture and the functional and esthetic results of the different surgical procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients with soft-tissue abnormalities of the hand were included in this prospective study. They underwent either contracture removal with K-wire and skin grafts or various flap procedures in the department of plastic surgery. Complaints of stiffness and discomfort were classified into five categories: none, mild, moderate, marked, and severe. The difficulty a person had in picking up objects, grasping, writing, etc., was used to determine the degree of disability. Absenteeism from work and surgical site infections were also recorded. RESULTS: The mean age was 20.25 years, with a mean age of 23.05 for men and 15.83 for women. Overall, most cases occurred in the age range of 3-10 years. For K-wire surgery with skin grafting, the typical time off work was 24 days. The average recovery time ranged from 15.2 days for skin grafts to 16.9 days for tenolysis, 28.33 days for groyne flaps, and 41 days for abdominal flaps. Of all cases, 12 (38.00%) had a fair result, 10 (31.04%) had a moderate result, and 9 (30.96%) had an excellent result. CONCLUSION: The most feasible method for treating these situations, which offers the greatest potential for a functional and cosmetic result, is contracture reduction with skin grafting.

Résumé Contexte:Lorsque l'amplitude de mouvement entre deux segments de doigts, actifs et passifs, est restreinte, une contracture des doigts se produit. Le Le but de cette étude est d'étudier la meilleure procédure pour éliminer la contracture des doigts et les résultats fonctionnels et esthétiques des différents interventions chirurgicales.Matériels et méthodes:Au total, 31 patients présentant des anomalies des tissus mous de la main ont été inclus dans cette étude prospective. étude. Ils ont subi soit une ablation des contractures avec du fil K et des greffes de peau, soit diverses procédures de lambeau dans le service de chirurgie plastique. Les plaintes de raideur et d'inconfort ont été classées en cinq catégories: aucune, légère, modérée, marquée et grave. La difficulté d'une personne qu'ils avaient à ramasser des objets, à les saisir, à écrire, etc., a été utilisé pour déterminer le degré d'incapacité. Absentéisme au travail et sur le site chirurgical des infections ont également été enregistrées.Résultats:L'âge moyen était de 20,25 ans, avec un âge moyen de 23,05 ans pour les hommes et de 15,83 ans pour les femmes. Dans l'ensemble, la plupart des cas sont survenus dans la tranche d'âge de 3 à 10 ans. Pour la chirurgie au fil K avec greffe de peau, le temps d'arrêt typique était de 24 jours. La moyenne le temps de récupération variait de 15,2 jours pour les greffes de peau à 16,9 jours pour la ténolyse, 28,33 jours pour les lambeaux d'épi et 41 jours pour les lambeaux abdominaux. Parmi tous les cas, 12 (38,00 %) ont eu un résultat passable, 10 (31,04 %) ont eu un résultat modéré et 9 (30,96 %) ont eu un excellent résultat.Conclusion:le plus La méthode réalisable pour traiter ces situations, qui offre le plus grand potentiel de résultat fonctionnel et esthétique, est la réduction des contractures. avec greffe de peau.

A scalable and cGMP-compatible autologous organotypic cell therapy for Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa.

We present Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Cell Therapy (DEBCT), a scalable platform producing autologous organotypic iPS cell-derived induced skin composite (iSC) grafts for definitive treatment. Clinical-grade manufacturing integrates CRISPR-mediated genetic correction with reprogramming into one step, accelerating derivation of COL7A1-edited iPS cells from patients. Differentiation into epidermal, dermal and melanocyte progenitors is followed by CD49f-enrichment, minimizing maturation heterogeneity. Mouse xenografting of iSCs from four patients with different mutations demonstrates disease modifying activity at 1 month. Next-generation sequencing, biodistribution and tumorigenicity assays establish a favorable safety profile at 1-9 months. Single cell transcriptomics reveals that iSCs are composed of the major skin cell lineages and include prominent holoclone stem cell-like signatures of keratinocytes, and the recently described Gibbin-dependent signature of fibroblasts. The latter correlates with enhanced graftability of iSCs. In conclusion, DEBCT overcomes manufacturing and safety roadblocks and establishes a reproducible, safe, and cGMP-compatible therapeutic approach to heal lesions of DEB patients.

Skin graft surgery and its impact on platelet counts in Iranian burn patients: a non-randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Platelets are critical in maintaining homeostasis and immune response in burn patients. The concentration of platelets decreases in burn patients, and any intervention that increases serum platelet concentration can prevent serious consequences and patient death. The present study aimed to assess the impact of skin graft surgery on burn patients' platelet counts. METHODS: In this non-randomized clinical trial, 200 burn patients were investigated. The patients were recruited from the surgical ward of Imam Khomeini Teaching Hospital during the first six months of 2021. After completing the checklist, patients underwent skin graft surgery. Blood was taken from the patients during surgery in the operating room and on the third and fifth day after the surgery to check platelets. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software (ver. 22.0). RESULTS: Most patients (63.5%) were male, and 73 (36.5%) were female. One hundred eighty-one patients (90.5%) had deep burns, and 19 (9.5%) had superficial burns. The mean burns percentage in the patients was 19.3 ± 15.4%, the lowest was 2%, and the highest was 90%. The most common burns were caused by flame (42%) and boiling water (30.5%). The patients' outcomes revealed that 6% gained complete recovery, 86.5% partial recovery, 2.5% showed transplant rejection, and 5% died. Mean platelet levels in deceased patients had an upward trend. The mean platelet counts of patients were elevated during surgery (289,855 ± 165,378), decreased three days after surgery (282,778 ± 317,310), and elevated again five days after surgery (330,375 ± 208,571). However, no significant difference was found between the mean platelet counts during surgery, the third and fifth days after surgery in patients undergoing skin grafts (P = 0.057). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that skin graft positively increases the patient's platelets. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings and elucidate the mechanism. Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial approval code (IRCT# IRCT20131112015390N8 & 06/01/2024).

Multiple Trichoepitheliomas: A Disfiguring Lesion Successfully Treated with Excision and Skin Grafting.

BACKGROUND: Multiple trichoepitheliomas are rare benign adnexal tumours that present a unique challenge both to the patient and the managing physician. The multiple nature of the lesion and face being a common location often causes cosmetic concern and psychosocial challenges. Physicians on the other hand face the challenge of providing an ideal treatment with a satisfactory outcome. Dermabrasion and laser therapy have been used to treat this lesion successfully, though they require multiple sessions, and recurrence is common. These options are however either not available or unaffordable in low-resource countries such as Nigeria. Surgical excision though an option, has rarely been advocated due to scarring, leading some experts to offer no treatment at all in developing nations. We report a challenging case of sporadic multiple trichoepitheliomas successfully treated with surgical excision and full-thickness skin graft. METHOD: Following diagnosis, the patient was counselled on the procedure, the risks and benefits. She had en-bloc excision of the lesion, and full-thickness skin graft harvested from the right groin was transplanted and anchored with Monocryl 5-0. All wounds were dressed, and the graft site was reviewed on day 10. She was discharged for outpatient follow-up. RESULT: Graft take was 95%. Epidermolysis which was seen on postoperative day 10 resolved. Hypertrophic scar on the ala nasi is softening on scar massage, and the patient is very satisfied with the outcome. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision can be a valuable tool in low-resource settings for the management of multiple trichoepitheliomas.

CONTEXTE: Les trichoépithéliomes multiples sont des tumeurs annexielles bénignes rares qui présentent un défi unique à la fois pour le patient et le médecin traitant. La nature multiple de la lésion et le visage étant un site commun entraînent souvent des préoccupations esthétiques et des défis psychosociaux. Les médecins, de leur côté, sont confrontés au défi de fournir un traitement idéal avec un résultat satisfaisant. La dermabrasion et la thérapie au laser ont été utilisées avec succès pour traiter cette lésion, bien qu'elles nécessitent plusieurs séances et que la récidive soit fréquente. Ces options ne sont cependant pas disponibles ou abordables dans les pays à faibles ressources tel que le Nigeria. L'exérèse chirurgicale, bien qu'une option, a rarement été préconisée en raison des cicatrices, conduisant certains experts à ne proposer aucun traitement du tout dans les pays en dével oppement . Nous rappor tons un cas difficile de trichoépithéliomes multiples sporadiques traités avec succès par exérèse chirurgicale et greffe de peau totale. MÉTHODE: Après le diagnostic, la patiente a été informée de la procédure, des risques et des avantages. Elle a subi une exérèse en bloc de la lésion, et une greffe de peau totale prélevée dans l'aine droite a été transplantée et fixée avec du Monocryl 5-0. Toutes les plaies ont été habillées, et le site de la greffe a été examiné le 10e jour. Elle a été renvoyée pour un suivi en consultation externe. RÉSULTAT: La prise de greffe était de 95 %. L'épidermolyse observée le 10e jour postopératoire a disparu. La cicatrice hypertrophique sur l'aile du nez s'assouplit avec le massage de la cicatrice, et la patiente est très satisfaite du résultat. CONCLUSION: L'exérèse chirurgicale peut être un outil précieux dans les contextes à faibles ressources pour la prise en charge des trichoépithéliomes multiples. MOTS-CLÉS: Trichoépithéliomes multiples, Thérapie au laser, Électrocautérisation, Exérèse chirurgicale, Greffe de peau totale.

Wound healing induced by new synthetic peptide, A7-1, in C57BL/6 mouse model.

The effects of the novel synthetic peptide, A7-1, on wound healing and skin grafts were evaluated in a C57BL/6 mouse model. Two 15-mm wide circular skin excisions were made on the backs of mice and to each excision, 100 µM A7-1 or normal saline was applied daily. The treatments were applied and sutured for skin graft analysis. Digital photos were acquired on days 4, 7, 11, and 14 and fluorescein angiography was conducted. Wound sizes were verified using stereoscopic microscopy. Histological analysis was performed via hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Western blotting was performed using vascular endothelial growth factor. Using a stereoscopic microscope, significantly faster wound healing (17.3%) and skin graft healing (16.5%) were observed in the A7-1 treatment group in comparison to that of the control. The angiogenesis was significantly faster in fluorescein angiography examination in wound healing (11%) and skin grafts (15%). However, the average completion of epithelization (overall time for wound healing), did not show any significant differences. In comparison to the control, the new protein, A7-1, led to significantly faster wound healing in the initial angiogenesis.

Combination of autologous FCS and MPG versus each technique alone in the treatment of stable vitiligo.

Follicular cell suspension (FCS) transplantation is a novel surgical method for treating resistant stable vitiligo, whereas mini punch grafting is an established effective method for treating stable vitiligo. The combination of FCS and mini punch grafting is a better strategy for the treatment of resistant stable vitiligo. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of follicular cell suspension, mini punch grafting, and a combination of both techniques in the treatment of stable vitiligo. This prospective comparative study was conducted on 48 patients with stable vitiligo. They were divided into three equal groups, including group A (treated with follicular cell suspension), group B (treated with mini punch grafting), and group C (treated with the combination of both techniques). All patients were followed-up for six months for the assessment of their therapeutic response regarding clinical outcomes. By comparing the data of the three studied groups, we found that the difference in the degree of re-pigmentation after one and three months of treatment was not significant. However, the progress of re-pigmentation was significantly different after six months of treatment among the three studied groups (P = 0.027). Specifically, re-pigmentation was significantly better in group C than in groups A and B (P = 0.037 and 0.017, respectively), but it was not significantly different between groups A and B.

Surgical Management in a Medical Emergency: Disseminated Extensive Tissue Damage Due to Snake Envenomation.

Many snakebite deaths in India may remain unreported as these patients still seek treatment from traditional healers or quacks. Though local and systemic toxicity due to snake envenomation is quite common, the clinical presentation as disseminated extensive tissue damage and ulceration is not seen. We present a lady who presented with extensive skin erosions with tissue necrosis in all four limbs and the trunk. The case was successfully managed with antisnake venom, wound debridement, and split skin grafting. Early antisnake venom halts the progression of tissue damage effects of snake venom. The future treatment of these extensive ulcerations may be the use of drugs that can inhibit the hydrolyzing enzymes of snake venom. The case also stresses the need for excellent wound care after the management of systemic envenomation with antivenom treatment.

A quantitative analysis of microcirculation during healing of split-thickness skin grafts in standardized full-thickness wounds.

BACKGROUND: Full-thickness skin defects often are managed with split-thickness skin grafting. The wound healing process, including formation of new vessels during the healing of skin grafts, is complex. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the microcirculatory changes in the treated tissue after skin grafting to analyze perfusion dynamics during the wound healing process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen full-thickness skin defects were created on the back of 14 adult male Lewis rats. All wounds were treated with autologous split-thickness skin grafts. The perfusion dynamics were assessed for 84 days with an O2C device that combines a laser light to determine blood flow and white light to determine postcapillary SO2 and the rHb. RESULTS: Blood flow increased for 50 days after grafting. SO2 decreased in superficial skin layers (depth of 2 mm) and increased in deep skin layers (depth of 8 mm) during the entire observation period. The rHb increased until day 10 in superficial layers and until day 20 in deep tissue layers. CONCLUSION: The microcirculatory changes reflect the different phases of wound healing. Long after the skin transplants were macroscopically healed, alterations in microcirculation were still detected. These alterations were caused by the long-lasting changes in tissue metabolism due to the formation, conversion, and degradation of the dermal matrix and vessels during wound healing and scar formation.

Biological attributes required for epidermal regeneration: Evaluation of the next-generation autologous cell harvesting device.

Early wound intervention and closure is critical for reducing infection and improving aesthetic and functional outcomes for patients with acute burn wounds and nonthermal full-thickness skin defects. Treatment of partial-thickness burns or full-thickness injuries with autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) achieves robust wound closure while limiting the amount of donor skin compared with standard autografting. A Next Generation Autologous Cell Harvesting Device (NG-ACHD) was developed to standardize the preparation process for ASCS to ensure biological attributes are obtained known to correlate with well-established safety and performance data. This study compared ASCS prepared using the NG-ACHD and ACHD following the manufacturer's guidance, evaluating cellular yields, viability, apoptotic activity, aggregates, phenotypes and functional capacity. Non-inferiority was established for all biological attributes tested and comparable healing trajectories were demonstrated using an in vitro skin regeneration model. In addition to standardization, the NG-ACHD also provides workflow efficiencies with the potential to decrease training requirements and increase the ease of incorporation and utilization of ASCS in clinical practice.

An exploratory randomized clinical trial on negative pressure wound therapy for lower limb full-thickness skin grafts of dermatosurgical patients.

Full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) reconstructions of lower limbs are especially prone to wound complications. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) enhances wound healing, but no broad evidence exists if it promotes graft take of lower leg FTSGs. In this investigator-initiated, prospective, randomised and controlled trial, 20 patients with ambulatory FTSG reconstruction for lower limb skin cancers were randomised for postoperative treatment with either NPWT, or conventional dressings. As outcomes, adherence of the skin graft 1 week postoperatively, any wound complications within 3 months, including ≥3 weeks delayed wound healing, and the number of additional postoperative visits were compared. In both groups, grafts adhered equally well (p = 0.47); 80% of NPWT-treated and 100% of control group grafts adhered >90%. There was no significant difference in the number of postoperative complications/delayed wound healing (p = 0.65); 70% of patients in the NPWT and 50% in the control group developed a wound complication. Both groups had an equal number of patients with at least three additional control visits (p = 1.0). The study was discontinued after 20 patients were recruited, as no benefit from NPWT was seen. To conclude, the study showed no benefit from NPWT for lower limb FTSGs.