Abstract: Introduction: Haemoglobin level in blood is traditionally considered to be directly affecting wound healing.; Hence many times blood transfusion to patients with anaemia is given in order to achieve better wound healing.
Material and Method: This retrospective observational study was conducted from July 2017 to October 2017 at Department of Orthopaedics, B.J. Medical college & Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra. Records of those patients with orthopaedic trauma who underwent split thickness skin grafting were analyzed. Split thickness skin graft uptake was evaluated in 31 patients with anaemia (Haemoglobin <10/dl) and compared with control group (Haemoglobin level of 10 or > 10 gm/dl)
Results: No statistically significant difference was found in mean graft uptake between two groups.
Conclusion: Mild to moderate anaemia does not deleteriously affect split thickness skin graft uptake provided perfusion is well maintained with effective circulatory volume. Hence if anaemic patient is asymptomatic and without any cardiovascular or pulmonary compromise because of anaemia, prophylactic blood transfusion for better wound healing in terms of split skin graft uptake is not indicated.
