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Background Linear blisters (LBs) often occur around dressings when negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is used to cover open wounds. Tension blisters may increase the wound infection incidence rate, delay the start of operation, and prolong the duration of hospital stay. Currently, there are no established methods for the prevention of LB formation around dressings, which remains to be a major concern in clinical applications. Therefore, we developed a novel, simple, reproducible, and convenient method for preventing LB formation around NPWT dressings. Method Fifty-three cases of Gustilo type II and III open fractures under NPWT were considered. NPWT was used on every wound after debridement. All patients were divided into a conventional group (27 cases, 33 wounds) and a novel group (26 cases, 27 wounds) based on the difference in the NPWT dressing appearance. A healthy volunteer with intact skin was also included to perform the detailed process of NPWT. LBs occurring on intact skin around the dressings were observed and recorded when the dressing was removed 3 days after the operation. The occurrence of LB formation and wound infection was considered as categorical data and compared between the two groups using a chi-square test. The duration of hospital stay was considered as numerical data and compared between the two groups using two independent t tests. Results The percentage of occurrence of LB formation around dressings in the conventional group was 27.3%, whereas it was merely 3.7% in the novel group (P = 0.037). The infection incidence rate in the conventional group was 30.3%, whereas that in the novel group was 25.9%; however, no statistical difference was observed between the two groups (P = 0.708). The average duration of hospital stay in the conventional group was 14.39 ± 4.55 days, whereas that in the novel group was 11.04 ± 3.47 days (P = 0.003). Conclusion Thus, changing the NPWT dressing appearance can prevent LB formation around dressings, providing an effective method to improve NPWT application. Modified NPWT dressings also shorten the duration of hospital stay, but do not significantly decrease the incidence of wound infection.

Chronic wounds remain a significant public problem and the development of wound treatments has been a research focus for the past few decades. Despite advances in the products derived from endogenous substances involved in a wound healing process (e.g., growth factors, stem cells, and extracellular matrix), effective and safe wound therapeutics are still limited. There is an unmet need to develop new therapeutics. Various new pathways and targets have been identified and could become a molecular target in designing novel wound agents. Importantly, many existing drugs that target these newly identified pathways could be repositioned for wound therapy, which will facilitate fast translation of research findings to clinical applications. This review discusses the newly identified pathways/targets and their potential uses in the development of wound therapeutics. Some herbs and amphibian skins have been traditionally used for wound repairs and their active ingredients have been found to act in these new pathways. Hence, screening these natural products for novel wound therapeutics remains a viable approach. The outcomes of wound care using natural wound therapeutics could be improved if we can better understand their cellular and molecular mechanisms and fabricate them in appropriate formulations, such as using novel wound dressings and nano-engineered materials. Therefore, we also provide an update on the advances in wound therapeutics from natural sources. Overall, this review offers new insights into novel wound therapeutics.

Summary. Aim. NPWT-therapy (Negative-pressure wound therapy) or VAC-therapy (Vacuum Assisted Clousur) - a modern method of wound healing, which significantly improves the course of all stages of the wound process and is relevant today due to the large number of wounded during hostilities in eastern Ukraine. Often these injuries are combined and lead to the formation of large soft tissue defects. The aim of the study. Improving the results of treatment of the wounded with extensive defects of the soft tissues of the torso and extremities through the use of NPWT therapy. Materials and methods. Under our supervision in the period from 2017 to 2020 there were 60 wounded who were hospitalized in the surgical departments of the Military Medical Clinical Center of the Southern Region, who received vacuum therapy in the treatment of wounds. 38 (63.3%) had gunshot wounds to the extremities, and 22 (36.7%) had soft tissue injuries to the torso. The age of the wounded ranged from 19 to 58 years, among them young people under 30 years of age. Before installing the device, it was necessary to perform surgical treatment with excision of necrotic tissue and removal of fibrin layers. Negative pressure was set at -125 mm Hg. Art. in the non-stop mode for soft tissue defects of the extremities and variable pressure in the -40 mm Hg mode. Art. -70 mm Hg Art. for wounds of the anterior abdominal wall. The duration of treatment with NPWT therapy was from 5 to 25 days. The systems were replaced at least once every 3-5 days. Criteria for discontinuation of NPWT therapy were: cleansing the wound of necrotized tissues and fibrin, improving clinical performance, filling the wound defect with granulation tissue. Results and discussion. The use of this method of treatment allowed to close wound defects by autodermoplasty in 21 patients (35%), primary-delayed sutures in 11 (18%), secondary sutures in 15 (25%) and local tissue plastics in 13 (22%). Complications after NPWT therapy in the form of re-suppuration of the wound, bleeding or perforation of hollow organs and large vessels were not observed. Conclusions. The use of NPWT therapy can significantly increase the effectiveness of comprehensive treatment of the wounded with damage to the soft tissues of the torso and extremities. It allows you to quickly clean the wound surface, fill the wound defect with granulation tissue and prepare the wound for plastic closure.

Background and objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in the treatment of Fournier gangrene (FG). Material and methods: Forty-eight male patients treated for Fournier gangrene were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups (Group I: conventional dressing, Group II: VAC therapy). Characteristics of the patients, laboratory parameters, number of debridement procedures, daily number of dressings, visual analogue scale (VAS) during dressing, analgesic requirement, colostomy requirement, time from the first debridement to wound closure, wound closure method, length of hospital stay, and mortality rates were compared. Results: Group I comprised 33 patients and Group II comprised 15 patients. The number of dressings, VAS score and daily analgesic requirement were statistically significantly lower in Group II (p < 0.05) than in Group I. The number of debridement procedures, colostomy requirement, orchiectomy rate, time from first debridement to wound closure, length of hospital stay, wound closure method and mortality rate were similar between these two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The clinical results of conventional dressing and VAC therapy were similar for treating FG. VAC therapy is an effective postoperative wound care method that offers less requirement for dressing changes, less pain, less analgesic requirement and more patient satisfaction compared to conventional dressing.

SUMMARY The relationship between wound irrigation and healing has been recognized for centuries. However, there is little evidence and no official recommendations from any health care organization regarding best wound irrigation practices. This is the first review of wound irrigation that systematically summarizes the literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and distills the evidence into a practical format. In this comprehensive review, the authors outline the irrigation fluids and delivery methods used in the identified studies, analyze reported treatment outcomes, summarize irrigation effectiveness, and propose evidence-based guidelines to improve wound healing outcomes and enhance the consistency of wound irrigation. Thirty-one high-quality studies with a combined total of 61,808 patients were included. Based on the current evidence provided by this review, the authors propose the following guidelines: (1) acute soft-tissue wounds should receive continuous gravity flow irrigation with polyhexanide; (2) complex wounds should receive continuous negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation with polyhexanide; (3) infected wounds should receive continuous negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation with silver nitrate, polyhexanide, acetic acid, or povidone-iodine; (4) breast implant wounds should receive gravity lavage with povidone-iodine or antibiotics; and (5) surgical-site infection rates can be reduced with intraoperative povidone-iodine irrigation.

Application of negative-pressure wound therapy dressings to the web spaces and small, often moist, areas of the hand can be technically demanding and time consuming. The researchers present a case report and technique for managing a devastating hand infection and soft-tissue defects by creating a self-fabricated sponge-glove that is easily reproducible. Vacuum-assisted therapy for combined volar dorsal soft-tissue defects of the hand, or "Hand Vac," is a novel approach for treating extensive hand wounds. This technique was used in a patient with diabetes with a deep space infection of the hand following serial debridements and antibiotic bead therapy. A single, medium size sponge was cut using a knife and scissors to create an easily applied glove that was then sealed with adhesive dressing and a single suction port. The patient avoided complete amputation of the hand and deep infection was eradicated. The wounds had progressive granulation and healing and were eventually covered with split-thickness skin grafts. The authors conclude that severe soft-tissue defects involving both the volar and dorsal aspects of the hand can be effectively managed with a single glove-like sponge and suction port.

This article introduces a new technology to minimize seroma and promote more predictable healing in surgically created deep space wounds. Its novel design internalizes the delivery of a continuously generated high negative pressure (–125 mmHg) throughout the surgically created space by means of a multibranched Manifold. In a small prospective cohort case study of 24 patients undergoing full abdominoplasty, all patients underwent placement of this device, which was removed 7 days postoperatively. Results at 30 days revealed no evidence of wound-healing problems, no clinical seroma, and no device malfunction. The internalization of a constant negative-pressure wound therapy provided by this system has the potential to significantly reduce clinical seroma, and to produce more consistent apposition of interfaces in deep tissue spaces in complex wounds seen in plastic surgery and other surgical disciplines.

Given the current COVID-19 crisis, multiple clinical manifestations and related complications of COVID-19 disease, especially in lung transplant patients following post-COVID-19 pneumonia, are a major challenge. Herein, we report the therapeutic course of the first reported case of sacrococcyx pressure ulcers (PU) in a 65-year-old male COVID-19 patient who underwent lung transplantation and developed a PU following surgery. We used a combination of regulated negative pressure-assisted wound therapy system (RNPT, six treatment courses, five days per treatment course), a skin tension-relief system (an intraoperative aid in minimising wounds caused by sacrococcygeal PUs) and a gluteus maximus myocutaneous flap to repair sacrococcygeal wounds. This successfully treated case provides a reference point for the treatment of similar cases.

Negative‐pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is often used for skin graft site dressing, and several studies have reported that its use improves skin graft failure in the forearm flap donor site. The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of NPWT with skin graft for donor‐site closure in radial forearm free flap (RFFF) reconstruction. A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted. The search terms used for PubMed were ([radial forearm]) AND ([donor]) AND ([negative pressure or vacuum]). This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews and performed in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses statement. Three prospective randomised controlled trials and three retrospective comparative studies were included. Compared with conventional bolster dressing, the use of NPWT dressing did not lead to significant improvements in partial skin graft loss, tendon exposure, and other complications. NPWT improved hand functionality earlier; nonetheless, the cost of the device and dressings was a disadvantage. The use of NPWT for skin graft fixation in the RFFF donor site is not generally recommended.

Lymphocutaneous fistula after lymph node dissection is intractable, yet there is no established treatment strategy. This study demonstrates the wound closure time achieved by a new method of combined internal and external negative pressure wound therapy (CIEN) in patients with lymphocutaneous fistula. The subjects of this study were six consecutive patients with lymphocutaneous fistula after lymphatic surgery, who were treated with CIEN between 2018 and 2020. The CIEN technique can be summarized as follows: first, internal foam is inserted into the fistula from the opening of the fenestration. Next, a slightly larger area of external foam is applied above the fistula flap outside the external margin of the foam-filled fistula. After bridging the internal foam and external foam, negative-pressure wound therapy is carried out on this bridging foam block. CIEN led to rapid and complete wound healing in all six patients. Fistula flap margin ischemia developed in one patient, but adjusting the mode and pressure settings resulted in improvement. Three patients suffered contact dermatitis. There were no signs of tumor or fistula recurrence in any patients after at least 3 months of follow-up. CIEN is an effective and less invasive treatment modality than the conventional method of managing lymphocutaneous fistula.

Objective To examine and report clinical outcomes of a ready-to-use micronized dermal matrix for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and compare it to treatment with conventional negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) only. Methods The researchers randomly allocated 30 DFUs Wagner grade 2 or higher from 30 adult patients into two groups. The control group (n = 15) was treated with conventional NPWT, and the experimental group (n = 15) was treated with micronized dermal matrix and NPWT. The researchers evaluated the following outcomes: granulation tissue formation, proportion of patients with closed or granulated wounds at 42 and 120 days, achievement of complete wound healing in the 6 months of follow-up, and intervals from enrollment to final surgical procedures. Results All 15 wounds treated with the micronized matrix showed healthy granulation tissue without noticeable complications during follow-up. At 42 days, 46.7% of wounds in the experimental group had closed compared with 28.6% in the conventional NPWT group (P = .007). At 120 days, 86.7% of the experimental group had completely closed wounds, compared with 57.1% in the conventional therapy group (P = .040). During the 6-month follow-up period, 93.3% of the experimental group achieved complete wound healing compared with 85.7% of the conventional therapy group (P = .468). Conclusions The healing outcomes for DFUs in the experimental group were superior when micronized matrix treatment was combined with NPWT.

The umbilicus is an important aesthetic component of the abdomen; therefore, its absence is both cosmetically and psychologically distressing to the patient. However, loss of the umbilicus during abdominal surgical procedures is often unavoidable. Umbilical reconstruction is aimed at obtaining a natural, three-dimensional appearance. We propose a simple method for immediate umbilical reconstruction with good long-term results. This technique was used successfully on a patient who underwent tumor excision. A 49-year-old woman presented with a large mass, measuring 5.8×4.0 cm, on her umbilicus. The mass, an epidermal cyst, developed after laparoscopic uterine myomectomy 5 years earlier. Complete excision of the mass resulted in a large defect, and immediate umbilical reconstruction was planned. Our procedure involved apposing and anchoring two opposing flaps onto the abdominal wall, so that the umbilicus would retain its depth over a long period of time. Negative-pressure wound therapy was applied for 72 hours as a mild compressive dressing. No complications were encountered. The healing process was uneventful and the aesthetic outcome was pleasing; a natural-appearing navel was created. The patient was satisfied with the end result. This technique provides a permanent and sufficient depression for the umbilicus.

Background Graft fixation is essential for the successful survival of skin grafts. Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) can be utilized for fixing a skin graft, ensuring adhesion of the graft with continuous and uniform pressure. However, the reported short- and long-term efficacy of NPWT in split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) is inconsistent, with few studies on the long-term efficacy (scar quality). To clarify the appropriate methods of skin graft fixation, we conducted a single-center retrospective study on the shortand long-term effects of skin grafting using different fixation methods. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent STSG from December 2010 to June 2019. The patients were divided into two groups based on the skin graft-fixing method: an NPWT group and a conventional mechanical fixation group. Medical data including age, sex, underlying diseases, wound etiology, recipient site, surgical methods, surgical outcomes, postoperative complications, and follow-up data (Vancouver Scar Scale score and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale score) were analyzed. Results A total of 392 cases were ultimately included in the analysis. Among them, 218 cases were fixed with NPWT for skin grafting and 174 with conventional mechanical fixation. No significant differences in baseline data were noted between the two groups. The total graft survival rate in the NPWT group was higher than that in the conventional mechanical fixation group (86.7% vs. 74.1%, P=0.002). Moreover, the infection rate in the NPWT group was lower than that in the conventional mechanical fixation group (5.5% vs. 13.2%, P=0.008). In terms of scar quality, no significant difference was observed, except for in the hand. Overall, the scar surface regularity was better in the NPWT group than in the control group. (P=0.019 for Patient Scar Assessment Scale, P=0.025 for Observer Scar Assessment Scale). Conclusions NPWT is an effective approach for fixing skin grafts. Compared with conventional mechanical fixation, NPWT can significantly improve the survival rate and reduce the infection rate of STSG. In the long-term, NPWT can also improve scar surface regularity in the hand, with an esthetic effect that is more satisfactory to clinicians and patients.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, recurrent infammatory disease of the hair follicles in the skinfolds containing apocrine glands, which greatly impairs the quality of life of patients. The fnal solution in extensive cases is surgical treatment. There is no ideal treatment or uniform therapeutic template equally suitable for all patients. Treatment is personalized. In this paper, we present the case of a 53-year-old patient who underwent a two-stage surgical treatment for therapy-resistant HS, Hurley stage III, causing permanent complaints. During the frst surgery, the fstula openings were flled with methylene blue, then the skin and the scary subcutaneous tissue were excised, and after 10 days, in a second step, the surgical site was covered with split thickness skin graft from the back. After both surgeries, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was initiated. After the applied treatment, 98-100% graft adhesion was observed, and the patient was emitted without complaints after 3 weeks. Our case illustrates that in cases where the prospects for fap replacement in HS are poor or the healing tendency of the faps is questionable (infective wound base, poor quality surrounding skin), split thickness skin grafting combined with negative pressure therapy may be less stressful and provides a successful outcome. The combined treatment (NPWT + split thickness skin graft) is excellent not only for clearing and stimulating the wound base, but also provides an excellent wound base and allows successful wound closure / coverage, signifcantly shortening the duration of the long and cumbersome open treatment has been used so far. In this case, NPWT treatment can also be considered as a “bridging” step.

SUMMARY Wounds have been one of the most prominent pathologies since the beginning of humanity. For the last 5 decades, a drastic improvement of healing has been observed, thanks to new medical devices based on fluid aspiration capacities and the development of negative pressure wound therapy. Negative-pressure wound therapy was initially designed for a double action, fluid aspiration and mechanical stimulation of wound edges by a foam. Successive technical evolutions of negative pressure wound therapy were declined since 1997 when Argenta and Morykwas first presented their solution. The adjunct of instillation in 2009 was considered as the first interactive dressing, allowing topical wound solutions to sequentially reach the wound, in alternance with negative pressure. Other devices based on the same principle were designed to prevent postoperative infections when placed over a suture after surgery. This long evolution could enhance the armamentarium of possible solutions, considerably reducing the wound healing time.

SUMMARY The use of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has expanded over the last 3 decades, paralleled and documented by an increase in research. This article discusses the evolution and current applications of NPWT in modern breast reconstruction. Negative-pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell (NPWTi-d) technology can be used to remove infectious material, facilitate salvaging compromised tissue, and stabilize the soft-tissue environment. Published consensus NPWTi-d guidelines can aid in treatment selection and implementation of this new technology. The therapeutic approach of simultaneously removing infectious material and actively improving mastectomy flap perfusion and thickness is a burgeoning concept, and illustrative cases are presented. NPWTi-d preliminary use has led to reconstruction salvage with reproducible early experience and outcomes, and it is hoped that it will raise interest and awareness of this promising application of the technology to improve breast reconstruction outcomes.

Aims To date, there is no distinct principle determining whether to use irrigation under negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT). We developed a new economical device to manage difficult wounds, employing 1 of 2 techniques depending on the wound condition. Methods This case series study was conducted in 12 patients with difficult wound, from 2017 to 2018. Four patients were treated with Type A bidirectional irrigation system (wound irrigation), while 8 patients were treated with Type B bidirectional irrigation system (wound irrigation combined with NPWT). Results In the Type A device group, inflammatory profiles in case I, case IV, and case VIII were not monitored due to the stability of their wound. The mean recovery period was 3.75 weeks (2-8 weeks), with decreases in 100% healing rate. In the Type B device group, we noted an average of 71% reduction in inflammatory profiles. All patients’ infections were resolved or were healing, and 7 patients recovered satisfactorily. The recovery period ranged from 4 to 17 weeks, with a median value of 7 weeks. Conclusion Bidirectional irrigation system decreases secondary infections and complications, and increases the healing rate in patients with difficult wound.

Stalled healing in chronic wounds is a challenging problem for providers and remains multifactorial in etiology. Older adults with insulin-dependent diabetes are at very high risk. In this case report, two patients with large nonhealing wounds were considered for treatment with daily jet lavage irrigation in an attempt to remove the inflammatory products of their respective chronic wounds and eliminate the persisting biofilm bacteria. Several attempts were made to reduce treatments to two to three times per week, and negative-pressure wound therapy was initiated in both cases only to see the return of inflammation and necrosis of the wound bed. In both cases, the daily jet lavage irrigation was successful in creating a granulating wound bed that slowly healed over many months. One patient died with an open sacral pressure injury, and the other patient died 4 months after complete healing of a large heel pressure injury. The interesting observation is the necessity of daily high-intensity wound irrigation to correct the chronic infectious process. Diabetic chronic wounds in high-risk older adults are recalcitrant to standard wound treatments, and providers should consider daily jet lavage wound irrigation to deal with this problem.

Purpura fulminans is a serious condition that can result in severe morbidity in the pediatric population. Although autologous skin grafts remain the gold standard for the coverage of partial- to full-thickness wounds, they have several limitations in pediatric patients, including the lack of planar donor sites, the risk of hemodynamic instability, and the limited graft thickness. In Singapore, an in-house skin culture laboratory has been available since 2005 for the use of cultured epithelial autografts (CEAs), especially in burn wounds. However, due to the fragility of CEAs, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressings have been rarely used with CEAs. With several modifications, we report a successful case of NPWT applied over a CEA in an infant who sustained 30% total body surface area full-thickness wounds over the anterior abdomen, flank, and upper thigh secondary to purpura fulminans. We also describe the advantages of using NPWT dressing over a CEA, particularly in pediatric patients.

SummaryCombat trauma of the abdomen is ranged from 6.6 to 9% in the structure of combatinjuries according to the literature. The specificity of abdomen gunshot wounds resultsin development of functional disorders and complications (51-81%) and, as aconsequence, a high mortality rate (12-31%).Purpose: Improving the results of surgical treatment of purulent-septiccomplications in wounded with combat trauma of the abdomen.Materials and methods. On the basis of the Military Medical Clinical Center of theSouthern Region, up-to-date treatment methods were used for the wounded who wereadmitted with purulent-septic complications of abdominal combat trauma for the period2014-2019, considering the location, clinical manifestations and severity of the injury,namely puncture and drainage interventions under ultrasonography control, installationof vacuum wound therapy systems.During the study period, there were purulent-inflammatory complications of theabdominal cavity, retroperitoneal space, soft tissues in 86 wounded with abdominalcombat trauma (17.3% of the total number of wounded with abdominal trauma).At the first stage of treatment, puncture and drainage interventions were performedunder ultrasonic navigation and gradual remediation for diagnostic and therapeuticpurposes. Vacuum therapy was used in 25 patients with extensive wounds and purulentseptic complications of the soft tissues of the anterior abdominal wall.Thus, the use of interventional sonography, as the primary diagnostic and treatmentmethod for the treatment of purulent-inflammatory complications of abdominal combattrauma, has improved the quality of diagnosis and reduced traumatic interventions,which resulted in reduced number of postoperative complications and terms of inpatienttreatment.Results. 21 (24.4%) cases of puncture and drainage interventions were ineffectiveand required resorting to traditional methods of treatment - opening and drainage ofpurulent-inflammatory foci. Vacuum therapy is an effective method of treatment ofpurulent-septic complications of gunshot wounds of the soft tissues of the abdomen,which, in combination with puncture-drainage interventions, can reduce by 2.5 times thenumber of repeated operations (mainly multi-stage surgical treatments), therebyreducing 1.7 times the length of stay of patients at the hospital.Conclusions. The use of the up-to-date techniques may help to reduce the number ofinvasive treatments, accelerate recovery, reduce terms of hospital stay, reduceintoxication, and increase the rate of return of servicemen.

Background: Evidence for postoperative management of split-thickness skin grafts (SSGs) to lower leg wounds has shown early mobilisation has no adverse effects on graft take, while improving patient outcomes and significantly reducing hospitalisation costs. The development of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for SSGs led to new options for bolster dressings. This study aimed to determine the current postoperative mobilisation and dressing choices of Australian plastic surgeons. Methods: Australian plastic surgeons were invited electronically to participate in a questionnaire regarding their postoperative regimens for lower limb SSG in 2013, and again in 2018. A literature review was performed to establish whether surgeon-reported practice was in line with current evidence for early mobilisation of lower limb SSGs and also for NPWT on SSGs. Results: In 2013, 119 responses were received and in 2018, 110 responses were received. Survey responses showed significant reductions in the numbers of patients kept immobilised for more than five days (30% to 9%, p = 0.001) between 2013 and 2018. Surgeons reported immobilising their patients longer with standard dressings than with NPWT dressings (p = 0.003 by multinomial logistic regression). More than two-thirds of surgeons reported NPWT use in both 2013 (66%) and 2018 (70%). Conclusion: Between 2013 and 2018, NPWT use increased slightly and the percentage of surgeons mobilising their patients early significantly increased, in accordance with evidence in the literature. A link was noted between NPWT use and an increased tendency to early mobilisation. However, a large proportion of surgeons continued to prescribe bed rest postoperatively.

Background Closed perineal wounds often fail to heal by primary intention after abdomino-perineal resection (APR) and are often complicated by surgical site infection (SSI) and/or wound dehiscence. Recent evidence showed encouraging results of prophylactic negative-pressure wound therapy (pNPWT) for prevention of wound-related complications in surgery. Our objective was to gather and discuss the early existing literature regarding the use of pNPWT to prevent wound-related complications on perineal wounds after APR. Methods Medline, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for original publications and congress abstracts reporting the use of pNPWT after APR on closed perineal wounds. Results Seven publications were included for analysis. Two publications reported significantly lower incidence of SSI in pNPWT patients than in controls with a risk reduction of about 25–30%. Two other publications described similar incidences of SSI between the two groups of patients but described SSI in pNPWT patients to be less severe. One study reported significantly lower incidence of wound dehiscence in pNPWT patients than in controls. Conclusion The largest non-randomized studies investigating the effect of pNPWT on the prevention of wound-related complications after APR showed encouraging results in terms of reduction of SSI and wound dehiscence that deserve further investigation and confirmation.

The goal of this review is to provide a broad overview of light-based treatments that have shown effectiveness in enhancing various aspects of wound healing, examine the drawbacks that have impeded the translation of some light-based therapies into clinical use, and highlight scenarios where these treatments may confer benefits over current standards in wound care. Several categories of light-based treatments, in particular laser debridement, fractional photothermolysis, and photodynamic therapy, have seen exciting recent clinical results that may justify expanding the use of these modalities in clinical wound care. Antimicrobial blue light is the subject of several ongoing clinical wound trials, the results of which could demonstrate the viability of this technology as a clinical treatment. Photobiomodulation, while conceptually promising, requires more rigorous development and validation before it can become a reliable wound therapy. The technologies underlying light-based therapies are advancing rapidly, and in many cases, their utility in the wound care setting is still being actively explored. We anticipate that as these technologies mature and become optimized for wound applications, their utility in clinical wound care will continue to grow.

Introduction Surgical site infections (SSIs) lead to increased morbidity and cost. Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) removes wound exudate and improves local blood flow, but its effect on SSI is unproven following hepatectomy and pancreatectomy. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of NPWT on SSI in this population. Methods Patients were randomized to incisional NPWT or sterile island dressing following surgery. SSI predictive factors were recorded as well as patient comorbidities. Wound complications and type of SSI were recorded prospectively. Results Forty patients received the standardized perioperative bundle. Twenty patients received sterile island: 11 hepatic and 9 pancreatic resections; 20 patients received NPWT: 11 hepatic and 9 pancreatic resections; 23 patients were male; mean age 60.8 years (SD ±10.3); mean BMI 31.7 (SD ±7.0). There were three incisional wound infections: two with sterile island, one with NPWT; six organ space infections: four sterile island and two NPWT. There were no significant differences in SSI rates between groups (P = .57). Conclusion NPWT does not improve SSI rates over simple sterile dressing following hepatectomy or pancreatectomy. Improvements in SSI must be directed toward organ-space infections, which are unaffected by NPWT.

Background: Incision complications (IC) have a significant impact on procedure-related morbidity after lower-limb revascularization. One of the most studied IC is surgical site infection (SSI). Reporting these complications in a uniform way is crucial to evaluate treatment approaches. The aim of this study was to propose a comprehensive classification of IC and apply it to compare SSI with other IC in a trial on elective open lower-limb revascularization procedures. Methods: Two hundred twenty-three eligible patients undergoing elective unilateral inguinal and infra-inguinal arterial vascular surgery were extracted from a randomized controlled trial on incisional negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on inguinal vascular surgical incisions. The IC were classified by grades of severity (grade 0-6) that focused on IC-related consequences such as out-patient treatment (grade 1), prolonged in-patient treatment (grade 2), re-admission (grade 3), and re-operation (grade ≥4). An SSI was defined by the ASEPSIS score criteria. Results: An SSI was diagnosed in 63 patients (28.3%). Thirty-five of 160 patients (21.8%) not suffering from SSI underwent IC treatment. Treatment for IC was recorded for 25/144 patients (17.4%) with satisfactory site healing as judged by the ASEPSIS score. The median incision-related in-hospital stay in those with SSI (n = 79) and disturbed healing (n = 16) according to the ASEPSIS score was 13 days in both groups (p = 0.53). Five patients had peri-vascular SSI (IC grade 4 n = 4; grade 5 n = 1). The proposed classification of IC and the ASEPSIS score correlated highly (r = 0.77; p < 0.001). Inter-rater reliability for IC grading was substantial for three investigators with different levels of experience (k = 0.81, 0.71, and 0.70). Conclusions: The proposed incision classification suggests a comparable clinical significance of vascular IC in terms of IC-related in-patient stay, whether there was a surgical site infection or not. This classification system requires external validation.

Objective: To perform a systematic review of the literature on bacterial resistance, tolerance and susceptibility of silver within the context of wound therapy using silver-based dressings. Methods: A literature search was carried out using PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases, the focus was whether results from microbiological experimental in vitro tests with reference strains and clinical wound isolates are reflected in clinical practice with regards to their ‘resistance’ profiles, comparable with those observed for antibiotics. The search results were allocated to six categories: resistance and resistance mechanism, in vitro tests with standard strains and wound isolates, prevalence and incidence, impact on clinical practice and impact on antibiotic therapy as well as reviews, expert opinions and consensus. Results: Based on all findings of the literature, it cannot be confirmed that a related clinical resistance to silver-ions in silver-based dressings has clinical impact, although endogenous and exogenous genetic resistance patterns have been described and intensively investigated. A translation of these genetic resistance-expression structures to phenotypic appearances, similar to those known for antibiotics, has not been demonstrated for silver in the literature. Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is no definitive evidence available and further studies should be conducted.

Learning Objectives:After reading this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Understand the basics of negative-pressure wound therapy and practical uses of various vacuum-assisted closure dressings. 2. Understand the mechanisms of action of negative-pressure therapies and other important ad

Wound healing is the restoration of distorted cellular, biochemical and systemic processes with trauma to normalization with new tissue formation. Acute wounds are wounds in which the tissue can return to normal anatomical and functional integrity over a period of time, and treatment is relatively problem-free. Chronic wounds, on the other hand, are wounds in which anatomic and functional integrity cannot be achieved as a result of disruption of wound healing processes due to an underlying disease. Chronic wounds are a major health problem that affects a significant proportion of the population and reduces the quality of life. Moreover, wound care creates a significant financial burden on health systems in developed countries. With the technological advances in recent years, significant progress has been made in terms of drugs and medical devices used in wound treatment, however, despite these developments, experimental research in the field of wound therapy remains important due to the complex structure in wound healing processes and patient diversity. In this review, basic concepts and current applications used in wound research are discussed focusing on wound healing process and experimental wound models.

Background: The essential role of oxygen in wound healing is well documented, and recent developments in the delivery of topical oxygen therapy have made this a more viable treatment in practice. This article examines the role of topical oxygen – the NATROX® Oxygen Wound Therapy System in wound healing and looks at the impact of increased oxygenation on ulcer healing through a case series where the NATROX system was used in patients with ischemic foot ulcers. Materials and Methods: Topical oxygen therapy was evaluated in patients with ischemic foot ulcers in a tertiary referral specialist center. Results: During this case series of six patients, four patients had a complete healing before the study completion and two patients wounds were on a healing trajectory (average reduction in wound size of 60 %) during the follow-up, which eventually healed. Conclusion: NATROX® is an innovative topical oxygen delivery system that warranty further research to assess its potential impact on wound healing.

A 59-year-old man with recurrent rectal cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus underwent palliative total pelvic exenteration and intraoperative radiotherapy. After surgery, he experienced a pelvic abscess and abdominal-perineal fistula. Profuse exudate contaminated the midline abdominal incision through the abdominal-perineal fistula and delayed healing. Because of a residual tumor and the high cost, negative-pressure wound therapy was not performed. After 76 days of local treatment that involved removing necrotic tissue, controlling inflammation with an antimicrobial silver dressing, absorbing and draining exudate with a hypertonic saline dressing, promoting granulation and preventing infection with a silver alginate dressing, and promoting re-epithelialization with recombinant human epidermal growth factor gel, the abdominal wound and abdominal-perineal fistula healed successfully.

Incisional hernia remains a common complication following abdominal surgery, and its incidence can be reduced with standardized wound closure techniques. Robust evidence exists to support certain fascial closure methods, such as using a small bites, 4-to-1, continuous slow absorbable suture technique for elective midline laparotomies. On the other hand, there are other common surgical practices that lack quality data to support their routine use, such as abdominal binders, negative-pressure wound therapy, and reapproximation of subcutaneous tissue.

Resection arthroplasty can be performed as the first stage of a two-stage procedure in some patients with severe periprosthetic hip joint infections with poor bone stock. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate factors associated with the subsequent failure or success of these patients. Between 2011 and 2020, in 61 (26.4%) of 231 patients who underwent a two-stage protocol of periprosthetic hip joint infections, no spacer was used in the first stage. The minimum follow-up period was 12 months. Patient’s demographics and various infection risk factors were analyzed. In total, 37/61 (60.7%) patients underwent a successful reimplantation, and four patients died within the follow-up period. Patients within the failure group had a significantly higher Charlson comorbidity index (p = 0.002), number of operations prior to resection arthroplasty (p = 0.022) and were older (p = 0.018). Failure was also associated with the presence of a positive culture in the first- and second-stage procedures (p = 0.012). Additional risk factors were persistent high postoperative CRP values and the requirement of a negative-pressure wound therapy (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, multiple factors need to be evaluated when trying to predict the outcome of patients undergoing resection arthroplasty as the first stage of a two-stage procedure in patients with challenging periprosthetic hip joint infections.

Combination of dermatotraction procedure and of the wound therapy, using negative pressure, in treatment of defects after the lower extremity fasciotomy

Limited clinical effectiveness data suggest that single-use negative pressure wound therapy may reduce the frequency of dressing changes when compared with standard wound therapy (evidence from 1 single-arm study). No clinical evidence was identified describing the impact of single-use negative pressure wound therapy on functionality, pain, mortality, length of hospital stay, quality of life, and safety. It is unknown whether single-use or disposable negative pressure wound therapy is cost-effective for the management of chronic wounds (no eligible studies found). One guideline provides recommendations relevant to single-use negative pressure wound therapy with chronic wounds; however, there is no clear link to a robust evidence review reported by the guideline developers.

We present a severe case of orbital necrotizing fasciitis that was treated utilizing negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). The conditions caused by the disease and the utility of the treatment were discussed. Additionally, the functionality and the process of the treatment were thoroughly analyzed. Potential complications from utilizing NPWT were also identified. When the patient was tested, it was found that he had intra op cultures with group B Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep pyogenes). CT scans were also conducted to analyze his right lateral periorbital tissue. Subsequently, the patient was admitted to the ICU, where a wound vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) was placed on his right eye. Once the NPWT was complete, the patient was prescribed antibiotics and was able to improve the health within his right eye.

Wound dressings have become a crucial treatment for wound healing due to their convenience, low cost, and prolonged wound management. As cutting-edge biomaterials, marine polysaccharides are divided from most marine organisms. It possesses various bioactivities, which allowing them to be processed into various forms of wound dressings. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the application of marine polysaccharides in wound dressings is particularly important for the studies of wound therapy. In this review, we first introduce the wound healing process and describe the characteristics of modern commonly used dressings. Then, the properties of various marine polysaccharides and their application in wound dressing development are outlined. Finally, strategies for developing and enhancing marine polysaccharide wound dressings are described, and an outlook of these dressings is given. The diverse bioactivities of marine polysaccharides including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, haemostatic properties, etc., providing excellent wound management and accelerate wound healing. Meanwhile, these biomaterials have higher biocompatibility and biodegradability compared to synthetic ones. On the other hand, marine polysaccharides can be combined with copolymers and active substances to prepare various forms of dressings. Among them, emerging types of dressings such as nanofibers, smart hydrogels and injectable hydrogels are at the research frontier of their development. Therefore, marine polysaccharides are essential materials in wound dressings fabrication and have a promising future.

Aims Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant clinical and economic burden on health-care providers. The patients suffering from SSIs have been reporting poor health-related quality of life leading to psychological implications. The objective of this study to explore the role of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in general surgical patients undergoing laparotomy and with closed wounds. Methods A systematic review of the randomized, controlled trials reporting the use of NPWT in general surgical patients undergoing laparotomy for any reason published on Embase, Medline, PubMed, PubMed Central and Cochrane databases was performed using the principles of meta-analysis. Results A total of nine randomized, controlled trials on 1238 patients were included in this study. In the random effects model analysis using the statistical software Review Manager, the use of NPWT in patients with closed laparotomy wound was associated with significantly reduced risk of SSIs (odds ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.45, 0.81; z = 3.39; P = 0.0007). However, there was significant heterogeneity (Chi2 = 17.06, df = 8, [p = 0.03]; I2 = 82 %) among included studies. Conclusion The use of NPWT in general surgical patients undergoing laparotomy seems to have proven clinical advantages of reducing SSIs and may routinely be used as a prophylactic tool.

Objective: Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) can reduce the incidence of exudate and haematoma beneath a split-thickness skin graft (SSG) compared with traditional standard dressings. However, NPWT has not been universally adopted for lower limb SSGs despite evidence that its use is linked with improved graft take and a tendency towards early mobilisation. PICO (Smith and Nephew®), an ultra-lightweight NPWT device now available in Australia, can provide a smaller, more manageable NPWT dressing. The primary objective of this study was to compare lower limb graft take rate in PICO versus standard dressing groups, and a secondary objective was comparing quality of life (QOL) in these groups. Method: A prospective, randomised control trial was conducted of 71 lower limb wounds from 59 patients, with 36 wounds randomised to standard dressings and 35 to PICO dressings. Graft take was measured and expressed as a percentage of total wound area. Postoperative mobilisation day, patient comfort, complication frequencies, ease of dressing removal and QOL scores were also recorded. Results: The graft area percentage was not statistically significantly different between the PICO and standard dressing groups (p=0.054). All patients in the PICO group were mobilised by postoperative day one, but 8 per cent in the standard dressing group were still not mobilised by postoperative day five (PICO vs standard, p=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in patient comfort, patient QOL or complication frequency in the PICO versus standard dressing group at any postoperative visit, but the PICO dressings were statistically significantly easier to remove (p=0.04). Conclusion: PICO dressings are not inferior or superior to standard dressings for lower limb SSGs.

Objective: To clarify the role of microbiological swabs in surgical decision-making, we investigated the effect of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and serial surgical debridement on bacterial bioburden in hard-to-heal wounds and ultimately correlated them with the success of surgical closure. Method: All patients were treated with surgical debridement, jet lavage and NPWT before their wounds were finally closed. The treatment effect was assessed by correlating microbiological swabs obtained immediately after intervention with those obtained after removal of the dressings during the following surgical procedures. The result of the last microbiological swab taken before definitive surgical closure was correlated with the requirement for revision surgery. Results: We included the results of 704 microbiological swabs from 97 patients in 110 wound localisations in this monocentric, retrospective study. NPWT did not improve bacterial bioburden in 77% of cases and the duration of NPWT did not affect the result. Furthermore, no significant effect of NPWT could be found for either anaerobic (p=0.96) or aerobic bacteria (p=0.43). In contrast, surgical debridement increased bacterial load in approximately 60% of cases. If sterile wound swabs could be obtained at all, it was during the first four surgical debridements in 60% of patients; after that only 10% became sterile. Conclusions: Sterile microbiological wound swabs before surgical closure were associated with lower rates of revision surgery, while low or medium bacterial loads did not increase revision rates.

» Dressing choice following lower-extremity total joint arthroplasty has substantial ramifications for postoperative outcomes and should be carefully made to prevent complications such as periprosthetic joint infection. » Patient risk factors are essential components in the selection of wound dressings in total joint arthroplasty. » Traditional dressings are inexpensive per unit; nevertheless, the associated higher complication profile in patients at a high risk for poor wound healing and sequelae-associated costs may outweigh the up-front savings. » Modern dressings have the potential to yield better safety outcomes and increased patient satisfaction; however, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the ideal interactive dressing. » Active dressings, such as silver-ion dressings and closed-incisional negative-pressure wound therapy, have shown promising results to reduce surgical site and periprosthetic joint infection, especially in patients at a high risk for poor wound healing following hip and knee total joint arthroplasty.

Free skin grafts have long been used as an essential surgical procedure to treat skin defects due to burns, trauma or illness, requiring skin transfers from sufficient, non-marked areas. Usually, free skin grafts are covered by simple pressure dressings or tie-over dressings. However, under conditions of wide, concave or irregular wounds, graft removal has been problematic due to instability. We report a case in which gauze-based negative-pressure wound therapy using a Y-connector was indicated for the opportunity to cover both limbs with free skin grafts all around, providing successful wound care.

Tuberculosis (TB) is endemic to some geographic areas such as Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It is called the great mimicker because of its diverse and variable presentation and affects almost every organ in the body with different symptomatology. Often, TB causes empyema necessitans, the rarest forms of which are intramuscular and cutaneous. Here, the authors report a case of empyema necessitans and intramuscular TB, which was managed successfully with negative-pressure wound therapy. The treatment provided a good outcome and patient satisfaction compared with traditional invasive surgical options.

Background Following combat-related, extensive soft tissue injury from gunshot wounds or blasts, prolonged duration from injury to full wound closure is associated with infection, increased morbidity and mortality, failure to mobilize, poor functional outcome and increased cost. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a novel treatment enabling early primary closure of combat wounds. Methods This was a retrospective study of 10 soldiers and civilians with extensive combat-related soft tissue limb injuries (5 gunshot wounds, 5 blasts) treated using the TopClosure® Tension Relief System (TRS) with simultaneous administration of regulated oxygen-enriched and irrigation negative pressure-assisted wound therapy (ROINPT) via the Vcare α® device. Results Nine patients were treated during the acute phase of injury and one was treated following removal of a flap due to deep infection 20 years after injury and flap reconstruction. Two patients had upper limb injury and the rest lower limb injury. With the aid of the TRS and/or ROINPT, immediate primary closure during reconstruction was achieved in 6 patients and delayed primary closure in three. Only one patient required a skin graft to close a small area of the wound after most of the wound had been closed by delayed primary closure. Wound closure was achieved within 0–37 days (median: 12.5 days, interquartile range: 2.75–19.75) from injury. Conclusions The TRS is a novel device for effective, early skin stretching and secure wound closure through the application of stress relaxation and mechanical creep, achieving primary closure of large defects using a simplified surgical technique and reducing the need for closure using skin grafts and flaps and the use of tissue expanders. Delivering supplemental oxygen to the wound by ROINPT reverses the reduced oxygen levels inherent in conventional negative pressure-assisted wound therapy, mitigating anaerobic contamination and reducing infection. Irrigation may accelerate the evacuation of infectious material from the wound and provide a novel method for antibiotic administration. The combination of TRS and ROINPT devices allow for early primary closure with improved functionality of combat-related limb injuries.

Maligne Wunden entstehen entweder primar oder sekundar im Sinne einer malignen Transformation in bereits bestehenden Wunden. Eine Vielzahl von Hauttumorerkrankungen wie z. B. Basaliome, Plattenepithelkarzinome, Melanome und Lymphome, aber auch kutane Metastasen anderer Malignome konnen ulzerieren und damit ursachlich fur maligne Wunden sein. Ulzerierende Tumorerkrankungen oder Metastasen der Haut konnen jedoch auch chronische Wunden anderer Ursache imitieren und uber einen langeren Zeitraum unerkannt bleiben. Bei Patienten mit chronischen Wunden steht die richtige und fruhzeitige Diagnosefindung im Vordergrund. Darauf stutzt sich die stadiengerechte und krankheitsbezogene Therapie in Zusammenkunft mit den Wunschen des Patienten. Zudem ist auf allgemeine Masnahmen wie einen atraumatischen Verbandwechsel zur Verminderung von Schmerzen und Blutungen sowie die Anwendung von antiseptischen Verbandmaterialien zur Vermeidung von bakterieller Besiedelung und damit einhergehender Geruche zu achten.

The use of negative‐pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has displayed significant clinical benefits in the healing of infected wounds. However, the effects of NPWT on bacterial colonisation and infection of traumatic wounds has been controversial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of NPWT treatment in rabbits with a contaminated full‐thickness wound on bacterial behaviour, including colony morphology, spatial distribution, fissional proliferation, and bacterial bioburden. Full‐thickness wounds were created on the back of rabbits, and were inoculated with bioluminescent Staphylococcus aureus. The wounds were treated with sterile gauze dressings and NPWT with continuous negative pressure (−125 mm Hg). Wound samples were harvested on days 0 (6 hours after bacterial inoculation), 2, 4, 6, and 8 at the centre of wound beds before irrigation. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses were performed to determine the characteristic bacteriology. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was performed to obtain bioluminescent images, which were used to observe spatial distribution of the GFP‐labelled S. aureus within the tissue and quantify the bacterial bioburden. NPWT resulted in sparse amounts of scattered bacteria on the wound surface or as sparsely spaced single colonies within the tissue. Wound bioburden on day 8 in the NPWT and gauze groups was 34.6 ± 5.5% and 141.9 ± 15.4% of the baseline values (N = 6), respectively (P

Background: Family caregivers had heavy burden and a lot of great responsibilities toward their clients using vacuum wound therapy.Aim of Study: To asses knowledge and practice of family caregiver for clients using vacuum wound therapy for infected limb surgical wound.Material and Methods: Design: A descriptive research design.Setting: Out patient emergency plastic surgical clinic which affiliated to emergency hospital 185 at Cairo university hospital.The Study Sample: A convenient sample of 61 family caregivers and their (61) clients used vacuum wound therapy were included in the study from August 2017 to March 2018. Tool for data collection: One tool "Clients and family caregivers a Structured interview questionnaire" which divided to four parts. Part (I): Demographic characteristics of the family caregivers and clients. Part (II): Medical history of clients and home environment. Part (III): Family caregiver knowledge about vacuum wound therapy part (IV): Family caregiver practice about vacuum wound therapy. The total knowledge and practice scores for questionnaires are 100.Results: 42.6% of family caregivers age from 20 to less than 30 years and 73 .7% of them were male. The result revealed that positive statistically significant relations between total knowledge of family caregivers and their age, p=0.02. And education level, p=0.07. There was a positive statistical significant total practice and their job, p=0.08.Conclusion: The study concluded that, 51% of them had unsatisfactory total knowledge. Total practice 53% of them had satisfactory score while 47% of them had unsatisfactory score of total practices regarding vacuum wound therapy.Recommendations: The study recommended before appli-cation therapy, knowledge should be developed for family caregiver about definition, uses, benefits and initiation of therapy Improve practice of family caregiver to manage therapy through demonstration and training on safe handling of infectious and hazardous waste are critical to prevent cross contamin ation.

Objective To describe the indications and contraindications of negative pressure assisted wound therapy as well as a modification to the negative pressure technique that has been shown to shorten the number of changes of dressings and hospital stay with the early closure of the wound. Methods A review of the existing literature in the databases OVID, PubMed, Cochrane and Medigraphic was carried out in relation to the pressure-assisted closure of wounds. This is a non-invasive and active healing system that uses localized and controlled negative pressure, which consists of a specialized dressing that includes reticulated foam that removes the exudates through a tube to an airtight container. This set forms microdeformations in the wound bed, which are known to cause an important increase in fibroblastic migration and consequently of higher quality tissue, granulation tissue formation and angiogenesis. Results It was found that this method shortens the number of days of hospital stay. The technique describes the primary closure of the wound after intense cleansing and debridement of the non-viable tissue and signs of infection. Conclusions Negative pressure wound therapy is effective for the treatment of deep infections in postsurgical spinal wound, with average time of use of 1 to 4 weeks in the most severe cases. Level of evidence IV; Case Series. RESUMO Objetivo Descrever as indicações e contraindicações da terapia de cicatrização assistida pela pressão negativa, assim como uma modificação nessa técnica, que demonstrou diminuir o número de recargas de curativos e de internação hospitalar, por meio da manipulação do fechamento precoce de feridas. Métodos Foi realizada uma revisão da literatura, em bases de dados da OVID, PubMed, Cochrane e Medigraphic, sobre a terapia de cicatrização assistida pela pressão negativa. Este é um sistema ativo de cura não invasivo utilizando pressão negativa controlada e localizada, que consiste em um curativo especializado, com a inclusão de uma espuma reticulada que conduz, através de um tubo de exsudado, a um recipiente hermético, formando micro deformações no leito da ferida. A técnica tem provado ser uma importante causa do aumento da migração fibroblástica e, consequentemente, de tecido de qualidade mais elevada, junto com a formação de tecido de granulação e angiogénese. Resultados Em relação à técnica, descreve-se as etapas como forma de fechamento primário da ferida após limpeza intensa, desbridamento da área não viável e das características infecciosas. Além disso, o uso da técnica demonstrou diminuir o número de dias de internação hospitalar. Conclusão Este método de pressão negativa é eficaz para o tratamento de infecções pós-cirúrgicas profundas da coluna vertebral, sendo usado, em média, de um a quatro semanas nos casos mais graves. Nível de evidência IV; Série de Casos. RESUMEN Objetivo Describir las indicaciones y contraindicaciones de la terapia de cicatrización de heridas asistida por presión negativa, así como una modificación a la técnica de presión negativa que ha demostrado acortar el número de recambio de apósitos y la estancia hospitalaria con el cierre temprano de la herida. Métodos Se realizó una revisión de la literatura existente en las bases de datos OVID, PubMed, Cochrane y Medigraphic en relación a la terapia de cicatrización de heridas asistida por presión negativa. Es un sistema de cicatrización no invasivo y activo que utiliza presión negativa localizada y controlada, que consiste de un apósito especializado que incluye esponja reticulada que elimina los exudados a través de un tubo a un recipiente hermético. Este conjunto forma micro deformaciones en el lecho de la herida, que se sabe que causan aumento importante de la migración fibroblástica y, por consiguiente, tejido de mayor calidad, formación de tejido de granulación y angiogénesis. Resultados Se constató que este método acorta el número de días de estancia hospitalaria. La técnica describe el cierre primario de la herida después de limpieza intensa y desbridamiento del tejido no viable y de los signos de infección. Conclusiones La terapia de heridas por presión negativa es eficaz para el tratamiento de las infecciones profundas de heridas en el postoperatorio de la columna vertebral, con un tiempo promedio de uso de 1 a 4 semanas en los casos más severos. Nivel de evidencia IV, Serie de Casos.