HEALS Cohort Study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Healing of excisional wounds on lower legs by secondary intention Cohort Study

  • IRAS ID

    184779

  • Contact name

    Jane Nixon

  • Contact email

    j.e.nixon@leeds.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    The University of Leeds

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    Summary of Research
    Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is common, affecting about 245 in every 100 000 people in the UK. It frequently occurs on the lower leg. Usual treatment is to surgically remove the tumour (cut the cancer out). On other areas of the body when a piece of skin is cut out the edges of the wound are pulled together and stitched to close the wound. On the lower leg there is often not enough loose skin to pull the wound together, therefore these wounds are often left open to heal in what is called ‘secondary intention healing’. This can take a long time and affect the patients’ quality of life.
    Other lower leg wounds known as leg ulcers are treated with firm bandages known as ‘compression’ that improve circulation and healing. They are not routinely used to treat NMSC wounds on the lower leg healing by secondary intention and their effectiveness in this patient group is uncertain. The findings from this study will help design a randomised controlled trial to find out whether compression in addition to standard care will help these wounds to heal.

    Summary of Results
    This is a multicentre prospective observational cohort study in 58 patients from surgical Dermatology clinics, who had removal of NMSC on their lower leg with secondary intention healing without compression. Information was collected on healing times, patient characteristics and any wound related events. Patients were followed-up for a maximum of 6 months. The results emphasise the need to optimise outcomes for people following removal of NMSC.

  • REC name

    South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/SC/0598

  • Date of REC Opinion

    22 Oct 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion