A Randomized Study of The Use of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Traumatic Skin & Soft Tissue Loss

Over the last 15 years, negative-pressure wound therapy "NPWT" has become commonly used for treatment of a wide variety of complex wounds. Many clinicians have noted a dramatic response when negative-pressure wound therapy technology has been used, prompting a number of scientific investigations related to its mechanism of action and clinical trials determining its efficacy.

NPWT is a modality that has shown great promise and delivered significantly better results in the clinical care of acute as well as chronic wounds. It is designed to seal the wound site using foam dressing linked to an electronic pump, which applies a pressure ranging from -75 to -150 mmHg. As a matter of fact, NPWT's impact on wound healing appears to be the consequence of multiple effects, each contributing to the overall positive influence on wound healing. Current research indicates that there are four primary NPWT mechanisms of action: Macrodeformation, Microdeformation, Fluid removal and Environmental control of the wound.

Even if the role of NPWT in promoting wound healing has been largely accepted, there is a lack of evidence (few high-level clinical studies) regarding its effectiveness and further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of action.

Traumatic wounds vary from abrasions and minor skin incisions or tears to wounds with extensive tissue damage or loss and damage to bone and internal organs. Delayed wound healing particularly in difficult wounds is a major concern, It leads to pain, morbidity, prolonged treatment, and require major reconstructive surgery which imposes enormous social and financial burden.