A Randomized, Prospective Clinical Trial of Immediate Flap Closure Versus Wound Care for Management of Late-stage Pressure Ulcers

Patients randomized to surgical flap closure will undergo reconstructive plastic surgery to close an intended pressure ulcer at the earliest date after selection. Our group's co-investigator and staff plastic and reconstructive surgeon will decide on the optimal technical repair. Given the lack of retrospective evidence to support a superior surgical repair (myocutaneous, fasciocutaneous, local flap arrangement versus free microvascular tissue transfer) we will defer to our physician staff preference on a per patient basis. The time from enrollment to surgical intervention will be tracked, and no patient will be dropped from the study should this time exceed the two-week ideal.

Patients selected to the supportive wound care arm will be managed by the Center for Wound Care at Cottage Health System, a certified wound care center. They will receive standard of care conservative wound care including: debridement, dressing changes, wound checks, physical therapy, occupational therapy, antibiotic treatment, nutritional support and close follow-up over the study period.