Endovascular tibial arteries revascularization and its outcome on wound healing with split-thickness skin grafts for limb salvage in patients with below-the-knee vascular disease

Background
Continuous and rapid advancement in percutaneous endovascular therapy has led to a significant increase in its use as a primary option for revascularization replacing surgical bypass, and it has become a standard treatment for critical limb ischemia (CLI). Clinical success of percutaneous revascularization has been mostly judged by patency rate and limb salvage, but there is paucity of reports on the outcomes of the wound. We present a retrospective study of immediate angiographic and 6-month clinical outcome of patients who underwent endovascular recanalization of tibial arteries for CLI followed by surgical debridement and wound reconstruction with split-thickness skin graft (STSG) for patients with grade 2 ulcer according to the Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection score.
Patients and methods
Between January 2016 and April 2017, 47 consecutive adult patients with CLI who underwent endovascular recanalization of infra-popliteal arteries due to more than 50% stenosis or chronic total occlusion with grade 2 chronic wound that was reconstructed using STSG and who had a clinical follow-up of at least 6 months were selected for analysis.
Results
Forty-seven patients underwent endovascular reconstruction. Forty (85.1%) patients underwent only balloon angioplasty and remaining seven (14.9%) underwent additional bailout stenting for proximal tibioperoneal or anterior tibial arteries. Twenty-eight (59.6%) patients had multiple vessel recanalization, while 19 (40.4%) patients had single vessel recanalization. Linear flow to the foot was achieved in at least one artery, mostly the anterior tibial artery in 32 (68.1%) patients postrevascularization. Successful wound healing occurred in 37 (80.4%) patients, 24 (64.9%) of them underwent wound covering with STSG with graft uptake in 20 (83.3%) patients. Limb salvage was achieved in 41 (89.1%) patients at a 6-month follow-up.
Conclusion
Endovascular recanalization of tibial arteries is an effective procedure for the treatment of CLI. STSG can be considered a reliable option for achieving wound healing in diabetic foot patients after successful revascularization and proper wound debridement. Normal outflow with at least one of the three infra-popliteal vessels being patent is essential for adequate healing and graft taking.