Negative Pressure Wound Therapy After Severe Open Fractures: A Prospective Randomized Study

• DOI: 10.1097/bot.0b013e3181a2e2b6
• Publication Date: 2009-08-19T07:13:15Z
• Authors: James P Stannard; David A Volgas; Rena Stewart; Gerald McGwin; Jorge E Alonso
• Keywords: Negative-pressure wound therapy; Debridement (dental); Wound dehiscence

To evaluate the impact of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) after severe open fractures on deep infection.Prospective randomized study.Academic level I trauma center.Fifty-nine patients with 63 high-energy were enrolled in this study, data available 58 62 fractures.Twenty-three 25 to control group and underwent initial irrigation debridement followed by standard fine mesh gauze dressing, repeat every 48-72 hours until closure. Thirty-five NPWT had identical treatment except that was applied wounds between procedures closure.The presence or absence infection osteomyelitis, dehiscence, fracture union primary outcome measures.Control developed 2 acute infections (8%) 5 delayed (20%), for a total 7 (28%), whereas 0 infections, (5.4%), (5.4%). There is significant difference groups (P = 0.024). The relative risk ratio 0.199 (95% confidence interval: 0.045-0.874), suggesting treated only one-fifth as likely have an compared group. represents promising new trauma.