SAT0379 Vacuum-assisted closure versus conventional wound care in the management of chronic ulcers in patients with tophaceous gout: a prospective analysis

Background With the rising epidemic of gout, an increasing number of patients suffer from chronic ulcers associated with tophaceous gout in China, causing poor quality of life and disability. Such ulcers are very difficult conditions to deal with. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) has been proved to be effective in treating a variety kinds of wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers. However, its use in chronic ulcers associated with tophaceous gout has been seldom reported. Objectives In the present study, we evaluated the use of VAC in the treatment of chronic ulcers associated with tophaceous gout in comparison to conventional wound care (CWC). Methods We performed a 12 week prospective study that included 13 patients treated with VAC and 14 patients treated with CWC. We collected the clinical outcomes of these patients and data from a satisfaction survey. Chronic ulcers were treated until wound closure, or until the end of 12 weeks. Study will discontinue when the ulcer worsens or remains unchanged by the end of week 4. Results Granulation tissue appeared in 12 (92.31%) patients by the end of week 2 in the VAC group, while it appeared in 6 (42.86%) patients by that time in the CWC group (p=0.013). 100% granulation was achieved in 11 (84.62%) patients by the end of week 8 in the VAC group as compared to 5 (35.71%) patients by that time in the CWC group (p=0.018). By the end of week 12, decreasing in wound size was achieved in 12 (92.31%) patients in the VAC group, while it was achieved in 10 (71.43%) patients in the CWC group (p=0.326). Among them, wound closure was achieved in 9 (69.23%) patients in the VAC group, while it was achieved in 3 (21.43%) patients in the CWC group (p=0.021). None developed local infection in both groups during the treatment. More patients in the VAC group were satisfied with treatment as compared to the CWC group. Conclusions Our preliminary study suggests that VAC therapy is effective and safe in treating chronic ulcers associated with tophaceous gout and appears to be superior to CWC therapy. Large-scale studies are needed to further evaluated the efficacy and safety of the VAC therapy in the treatment of chronic ulcers associated with tophaceous gout. Reference [1] Agarwal J, Ogilvie ML, Lohman R, et al. Vacuum-assisted closure for sternal wounds: a first-line therapeutic management approach. [J]. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery2015;116(4):1035–1040. Acknowledgements We are grateful to all the participants in our study. Disclosure of Interest None declared