A prospective investigation of the healing of grafted pretibial wounds with early and late mobilisation.

The aims of this study were to determine whether early mobilisation delays wound healing after meshed split skin graft repair of pretibial wounds and to identify other factors delaying the healing of these wounds. A prospective randomised controlled trial was conducted to compare the time to complete healing of patients mobilised early (the first postoperative day) against those who mobilised late (the tenth postoperative day). There was no difference in time to complete healing. Patients with a history of oral steroid therapy had a mean delay in wound healing of approximately 8 days (p < 0.02). The severity of tissue damage, as indicated by undermining of the skin margins, damage to the fascia and exposure of the periosteum, correlated with delayed wound healing (p < 0.05).