Clinical Experience of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) for Soft Tissue Injury

Abstract

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been used until definitive coverage of wounds becomes possible.
We employed NPWT for management of soft tissue injury associated with open fractures, degloving wounds, compartment syndrome and soft tissue necrosis after surgery for trauma. NPWT was used for 22 patients (14 men, 8 women) including three who had infection after surgery. All of the patients achieved wounds healing, and NPWT was used for 16.6 days until definitive wound coverage or epithelization. NPWT is thus effective for treatment of soft tissue trauma.