Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An Independent Risk Factor for Split-Thickness Skin Graft Failure
A recent original research article published in Wounds highlights the significant impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on outcomes of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) procedures. The retrospective study evaluated whether a diagnosis of OSA is independently associated with increased graft failure rates in surgical wound management.
Study Overview:
- Population Studied: 259 patients who underwent STSG procedures at a tertiary wound care center between January 2017 and December 2020.
- Primary Finding: Graft failure occurred in 23.7% of patients with OSA versus only 12.7% in patients without OSA.
- Independent Risk: After controlling for confounding factors such as age, diabetes, smoking status, and BMI, OSA remained an independent predictor of graft failure (adjusted odds ratio 2.33).
- Pathophysiology: The authors speculate that hypoxia, intermittent airway obstruction, and systemic inflammation associated with untreated OSA may impair tissue oxygenation and compromise graft viability.
Clinical Implications: The study emphasizes the need for screening and potential preoperative optimization of patients with known or suspected OSA undergoing STSG procedures. Greater interdisciplinary collaboration between sleep medicine and wound care teams may be warranted to improve outcomes.
Keywords: obstructive sleep apnea, split-thickness skin graft, wound healing risk factors, graft failure, surgical wound care