Chronic leg ulcers treated by the pinch graft method.

Forty-nine patients with chronic leg ulcers were treated by pinch grafting. The initial success of this procedure was high for both gravitational and arterio-sclerotic ulcers. Over half the grafted gravitational ulcers and 70% of grafted arteriosclerotic ulcers were intact after 2 years. Some grafts remained stable for 6 years. Arteritic ulcers did not respond as well; none of the grafted ulcers survived more than 6 months. Pinch grafting is still a simple, cheap and effective therapy offering prolonged graft stability as well as quicker healing to those patients who are not fit for more extensive surgery.