Leg Wound Following Surgery To Remove Basal Call Carcinoma

[jourdain2]

This may be long, sorry. On 28th Aug. OH had local anaesthetic surgery to remove a basal cell carcinoma on his left leg - the wound is about 2" x 3" across his left shin and all the shin-bone is exposed. Last year he had one on his head removed and I could see his skull, but that did eventually heal, so I am optimistic about regrowth of flesh (sorry to any squeamish readers). This time there is a huge amount of clear fluid leaking from the wound, soaking dressings etc. if he stands up (it may be connected that he had a Greenlight laser resection of his prostate on 26th Aug. and has to drink over 2 ltrs. of water a day). I keep putting more dressings on and he sees the nurses every day - today we both noticed the beginning of regrowth of flesh, what, please, do I do about the fluid and do I need to be worried about it? Any doctors out there? Anyone who's had the same? Will be very, very grateful for feedback.

[Mamyalynne]

No medical background for me at all...


However, it is a normal part of the healing process, as long as the fluid is clearish and not pus coloured and no increase in pain and or redness and swelling all should be well.

It will slow down as the healing progresses.

[jourdain2]

Thank you mamyalynne.

[Sqad]

Just a few comments.
Shin...perhaps not the commonest place for a BCC.

Did he have a skin graft to the resected area on his shin following the excision?

Is the resected area painful and inflamed?

The "regrowth of flesh" is good news.

"Huge amount of clear fluid", does seem odd but may depend, as mamya states that it may be a part of the healing process.

Is the opposite ankle swollen?

All in all, depending upon the answers to my question, this is no big deal, just monitor the situation over the next 7-10 days.

[jourdain2]

Thanks Squad, very reassuring. No they will only do a skin graft as a last resort because he is 81 and his leg skin is very delicate. His other leg is a little puffy - but it always is; he had a triple by-pass about 10 years ago an check-up last year showed that one was partially blocked, so his circulation may not be 100%. On the other hand a doppler showed the arteries pumping blood up and down his legs very efficiently.

No it's not inflamed, but it is painful, especially after the nurses pick off what they call 'fibrin' every day.

Visibly even more regrowth of flesh today.

Still leaking clear liquid in large quantities, I keep putting more gauze dressings on top of the nurses dressings and changing his sock!

I am very grateful to you for the information. Thank you again - it's worrying when you are coping on your own.

[Sqad]

Thanks for the feedback.......you certainly have your hands full.
With his history of bypass surgery and swollen ankles, I would have thought that the flow of fluid from the wound would be beneficial.

The regrowth of "flesh" is reassuring.