[The contribution of skin autograft in open air in the treatment of the Buruli ulcer].

The Buruli ulcer (BU) rages in a lot of tropical and subtropical countries. In Democratic Republic of Congo, some BU cases were reported between the 50s and 70s. This disease offers resistance to the usual chemotherapy. The only alternative for the treatment remains the surgical one (trimming, wound dressing, graft). The overarching aim of this study, conducted in the province of Lower Congo, is to put forward a surgical therapeutic approach adapted to the precarious conditions met on the ground in our rural areas. The evidence of a Mycobacterium ulcerans infection has been bacteriological and histopathological. The slight skin autograft or "of Davis", in open air or with dressing was performed in 37 patients. After three months this skin autograft in open air has experienced 78.5% of complete healing against 70% for the skin autograft with dressing. The exposure of skin graftings to open air favors an hyperoxygenation which also fights against the Mycobacterium ulcerans, for this latter develops better in an hypoxical area.