Effect of Postoperative Dressing on Excisions Performed on the Leg: A Comparison Between Zinc Oxide Compression Dressing Versus Standard Wound Care.

BACKGROUND: Wound healing on the legs may be complicated by delayed healing and other postoperative problems. Two potential postoperative wound care regimens for sutured excisions on the legs include a standard pressure dressing and zinc oxide compression dressing. Limited data exist comparing the efficacy of these 2 options. OBJECTIVE: To compare outcomes of standard postoperative wound care dressing versus postoperative use of a zinc oxide compression dressing for sutured repairs on the legs. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, healing time and complication rate of 44 patients treated with standard dressing and 36 patients treated with zinc oxide compression dressing were compared. RESULTS: At 19 days, 91.7% of patients receiving zinc oxide dressing were fully healed, whereas only 65.9% of patients receiving standard wound care were healed. Complications were noted in 6 of the patients receiving standard dressing (13.6%); no complications occurred in the zinc oxide dressing group. CONCLUSION: Zinc oxide compression dressing is a practical option for postoperative wound care, with decreased incidence of delayed wound healing, and fewer complications versus standard postoperative wound dressing. (C) 2017 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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