Purpose

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of full-thickness skin grafts (FTSG) for cicatricial ectropion in ichthyosis patients, specifically assessing the impact of donor site, patient age, ichthyosis type, and other variables on graft success.

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Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted, encompassing cases of ichthyosis patients who underwent FTSG for cicatricial ectropion between 1990 and 2023 at King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected on demographics, clinical characteristics, surgical details, and outcomes. Variables recorded included patient age, ichthyosis type, donor and recipient sites, graft and defect sizes, suture types, complications, and follow-up duration. Success was defined as the absence of recurrence or improvement in cicatricial ectropion, while failure included recurrence or need for additional grafts.

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Results

The study included 19 ichthyosis patients, with 14 undergoing FTSG. Supraclavicular donor sites demonstrated a significantly higher success rate (66.7%) compared to inner brachial sites (36.8%) (p = 0.034). Graft size showed a trend towards success, though not statistically significant (p = 0.136). The overall success rate of FTSG was 63%. Notably, success rates declined with subsequent surgeries, and complications such as graft shrinkage and dehiscence were observed. Patient age and ichthyosis type showed trends influencing outcomes but did not reach statistical significance.

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Conclusion

Donor site selection is crucial for the success of FTSG in cicatricial ectropion with ichthyosis, with supraclavicular sites providing superior outcomes. While other factors such as age and ichthyosis type showed trends, they were not significant predictors of success. Future studies with larger samples and prospective designs are needed to further refine surgical approaches and postoperative management to improve outcomes.

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Additional Authors

First name	Last name	Base Hospital / Institution
Mashael	Alkhayyal	Oculoplastics and Orbit Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Rawan	Althaqib	Oculoplastics and Orbit Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Hailah	Alhussain	Oculoplastics and Orbit Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Eman	Alsharif	Surgery Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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