To evaluate the impact of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) after severe open fractures on deep infection.
Design: Prospective randomized study.
Setting: Academic level I trauma center.
Patients: 59 patients with 63 severe high-energy open fractures were enrolled in this study, with data available on 58 patients with 62 open fractures.
Intervention: 23 patients with 25 fractures randomized to the control group and underwent initial irrigation and debridement followed by standard fine mesh gauze dressing, with repeat irrigation and debridement every 48-72 hours until wound closure. 35 patients randomized to the NPWT group and had identical treatment except that NPWT was applied to the wounds between irrigation and debridement procedures until closure.
Main Outcome Measures: The presence or absence of deep wound infection or osteomyelitis, wound dehiscence, and fracture union were primary outcome measures.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
To evaluate the impact of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) after severe open fractures on deep infection.
Design: Prospective randomized study.
Setting: Academic level I trauma center.
Patients: 59 patients with 63 severe high-energy open fractures were enrolled in this study, with data available on 58 patients with 62 open fractures.
Intervention: 23 patients with 25 fractures randomized to the control group and underwent initial irrigation and debridement followed by standard fine mesh gauze dressing, with repeat irrigation and debridement every 48-72 hours until wound closure. 35 patients randomized to the NPWT group and had identical treatment except that NPWT was applied to the wounds between irrigation and debridement procedures until closure.
Main Outcome Measures: The presence or absence of deep wound infection or osteomyelitis, wound dehiscence, and fracture union were primary outcome measures.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.