Abstract: Background: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is frequently utilized to manage complex wounds around foot and ankle. Changes in growth factor expression, micro- and macro-deformation, blood flow, exudate removal, and bacterial concentration within the wound bed are thought to play a role. This study was performed to evaluate the results of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in patients with open wounds in the foot and ankle region.
Methods: this was a prospective study of 30 patients with soft tissue injury and open fractures around foot and ankle conducted between April 2022 to April 2023 with a follow up period of 1 year.
Results: There were 19 male and 11 female patients in our study with right side being more commonly affected in 17 patients and foot region being more commonly involved. Exposed tendons and bones were successfully covered with healthy granulation tissue in all cases. The mean age of the patients was 40.3 ranging from 22 to 62 years. Mean wound size at treatment initiation was 52.1 cm2 ranging from 32 to 96 cm2 and this reduced to 20.8 cm2 ranging from 10 to 42 cm2 at treatment completion. No major complication occurred that was directly attributable to treatment. In terms of minor complications, six patients developed superficial infections.
Conclusion: NPWT was found to facilitate the rapid formation of healthy granulation tissue on open wounds in the foot and ankle region, and thus, to shorten healing time and minimize secondary soft tissue defect coverage procedures.
