Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Lower Limb Reconstruction

Objective: To access the efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy and, its potential outcomes in lower limb reconstruction. Study Design: Prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Plastic Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Dec 2019 to Dec 2020. Methodology: We evaluated negative pressure wound therapy on 56 patients meeting exclusion and inclusion criteria. Dressing kept for 03 to 04 days on continuous suction pressure at -125 mmHg. Outcomes measured in term of wound size reduction, type of tissue requirement for wound coverage and complications after negative pressure wound therapy. Result: Wound size reduction after negative pressure wound therapy was 24.10% with average number of dressings 02.39±1.07 (range 01 to 06) Wound covered with Partial Thickness Skin Graft in 38(67.9%) patients. Flap coverage required in 15(26.8%) in lower limb. No major complication noted in 56 patients. Conclusion: Negative pressure wound therapy has evolved management algorithm of complex and complicated wounds in lower extremities. It optimizes wound bed, significantly reduces duration of wound healing and lessen soft tissue defect coverage with secondary procedures.