Phototherapy for Speeding Up Open Wound Granulation?

asked 3 years ago by grandmotherbarb in Visalia, CA
Latest answer by Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Question viewed 1,047 times
Tags: candidate, wound

Following surgical removal of squamous cell carcinoma on my shin, my 2 inch diameter full-skin graft had to be partially removed at 31/2 weeks. Would phototherapy speed up the granulation of a 1/4" deep open wound?

2 answers to Phototherapy for Speeding Up Open Wound Granulation?

Perhaps LED device

You must be patient. The shin area is notorious for slow healing, especially in the aged. This is due to the diminished blood supply and as Dr. Mariwella points out, healing in slowest the further away from the heart. Back when I was in pathology and we had to dissect a leg, a fairly common event since many below and above knee amputations are performed annually due to diabetes, this was a difficult area to find the vasculature. There is some evidence that LED light sources such as... more

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist

Wound healing on the shin

Dear Grandmotherbarb, Unfortunately the short answer is no. Wound healing is slowest in the areas that are farthest from the heart (e.g. foot, ankle, lower leg). In addition, the shin area has poor blood supply compared to other parts of the lower leg (like the calf for example). So, there are 2 things working to slow down wound healing - 1) the location on the lower leg and 2) location on the shin. To speed up wound healing, I recommend leg elevation when you can and compression... more

Kavita Mariwalla, MD
New Haven Dermatologic Surgeon

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Phototherapy for Speeding Up Open Wound Granulation?

Perhaps LED device

Wound healing on the shin

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