Effect of Vacuum-Assisted Dressings in Diabetic Wounds

Background: Diabetic wounds represent a major clinical and public health challenge due to delayed healing, frequent infections, and the risk of amputation.Conventional dressings often fail to provide adequate results, leading to prolonged morbidity.Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy, a form of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), has been developed to accelerate wound healing by enhancing granulation, reducing edema, controlling infection, and preparing wounds for definitive closure.Methods: An interventional study was conducted on 30 patients with diabetic ulcers admitted to our institution.All patients underwent VAC therapy using continuous negative pressure at -125 mmHg.Wound evaluation was performed using a standardized wound scoring system that assessed granulation tissue area, color, and consistency over 10 days.Baseline demographic, clinical, and microbiological profiles were also recorded.Results: Of the 30 patients, 22 (73.3%) were male, with the majority belonging to the 41-50-year age group.Most ulcers were of traumatic origin (63.3%).Patients with controlled diabetes demonstrated better wound response compared to those with poor glycemic control.The most common organisms isolated were S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and Proteus species.By day 10, more than 70% of cases achieved a wound score >5, indicating readiness for grafting.VAC therapy resulted in reduced exudate, faster granulation, and effective control of infection.Conclusion: VAC therapy significantly improved wound healing outcomes in diabetic ulcers by accelerating granulation tissue formation, reducing bacterial burden, and preparing wounds for secondary closure.It appears to be a safe and effective alternative to conventional wound management.