Background: To compare the outcome in terms of flap survival, complication rate, hospital stay between immediate and delayed flap coverage of lower extremity traumatic wounds.

Methods: The comparative analysis of outcome in terms of flap survival, complication rate, hospital stay between immediate (n=25) and delayed (n=25) flap coverage group. Chi square test was used for descriptive data and students unpaired t test for discrete continuous data analysis.

Results: Age, sex, mode of injury, limb laterality and location of injury at extremity are statistically comparable and there are equivalent results in terms of flap outcome in both groups. Mean defect size with standard deviation in immediate coverage group 85 ± 65 is  cm2 while as in delayed coverage group it is 54.5 ± 29.5  cm2 with significant p value of 0.0378. Mean flap size with standard deviation in immediate flap cover group is 117± 87.5 cm2 while as in delayed flap cover group it is 70.5± 34.5 cm2 with significant p value of 0.0170. Mean hospital stay with standard deviation in immediate group is 7.5 ± 2.5 days while as in delayed group it is 29.5 ± 8.5 days with significant p value of < 0.0001.

Conclusion: There are equivalent results in patients undergoing immediate and delayed flap coverage. However, there is significant difference in the defect size, flap size required and hospital stay. There is large flap size required in immediate group but there is significant decrease in hospital stay with subsequent reduction of both direct and indirect health costs.

Dr Vishal Patil is a board-certified Trauma Surgeon at Department of Trauma Surgery and Critical Care AIIMS Rishikesh.

He completed his MBBS ( Batch 2007) from JNMC Wardha, Maharashtra India.

After that He completed M.S in General Surgery ( Batch 2014) from PCMS Bhopal (M.P).

Then, He completed his Senior Residency in Trauma Surgery and Critical Care AIIMS New Delhi India and now just finished M.Ch (Batch 2020) in Trauma Surgery and Critical Care from AIIMS Rishikesh India.