RESEARCH ARTICLE


Negative Pressure Wound Therapy – A Review of its Uses in Orthopaedic Trauma



Sven Putnis*, 1, Wasim S Khan 2, James M.-L Wong 3
1 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4LP, UK
2 University College London Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4LP, UK
3 Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Queens Hospital, Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Romford, Essex, RM7 0AG, UK


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Creative Commons License
© Putnis et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/) which permits unrestrictive use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Joint Reconstruction Unit, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4LP, UK; Tel: +44 7900 248583; E-mail: svenputnis@doctors.org.uk


Abstract

The use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) for complex and large wounds has increased in popularity over the past decade. Modern NPWT systems consisting of an open pore foam sponge, adhesive dressing and a vacuum pump producing negative pressure have been used as an adjunct to surgical debridement to treat tissue defects around open fractures and chronic, contaminated wounds. Other uses include supporting skin grafts and protecting wounds at risk of breaking down. This review outlines the current and emerging indications for negative pressure wound therapy in Orthopaedic trauma and the existing preclinical and clinical evidence base for its use.

Keywords: Negative pressure wound therapy, open fractures, trauma, wound management..