Abstract
Wound bed preparation after debridement can be accomplished in several ways. Artificial dermal scaffolding is one method of reconstructing skin-like tissue in an early stage. Negative pressure wound therapy using the V.A.C.®ATS system is another method that results in good granulation. At present, few reports have addressed the issues surrounding chronic wound therapy and the potential of artificial dermal scaffolding and negative pressure wound therapy. In this study, dermal tissues were examined and treated with a combination of artificial dermal scaffolding and postoperative negative pressure wound therapy. Between March and September 2012, six patients with chronic wounds in the lower extremities were treated with a combination of artificial dermal scaffolding and postoperative negative pressure wound therapy. Granulation tissue was examined and artificial dermal scaffolding combined with postoperative negative pressure wound therapy was compared to postoperative negative pressure wound therapy alone. The combination of artificial dermal scaffolding and negative pressure wound therapy resulted in significantly better dermal regeneration through infiltration of cells and neovascularization than negative pressure wound therapy alone (P<0.01). The dermal substitutes were completely successful in all cases, and no graft failures were observed. Thus, combination therapy with dermal scaffolding and negative wound pressure therapy potentially results in good wound bed preparation.
