[Application of negative-pressure wound therapy in complex therapy of open tibia fractures IIIB and IIIC with massive soft tissue loss]

Patients with high-grade open tibia fractures and massive soft tissue damage pose a demanding clinical challenge, requiring a complex inter-disciplinary approach and multiple orthopedic, vascular and plastic-reconstructive procedures. These types of fractures still have a 50% risk of loss, although amputation remains a treatment method of last resort. In our experience negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT), used in the form of the vacuum assisted closure - VAC System (KCI, USA) improves healing of excessive soft tissue damage with exposure of the bone accompanying open fracture of the tibia. VAC seals the wound with a foam dressing and applies negative pressure to the wound bed. The removal of exudate and infectious material supports the cleaning of the wound. Together with the reduction of oedema and the increase in blood flow, this promotes formation of granulation tissue and eventually wound closure by split skin graft. Utilizing this method as part of a multi directional approach VAC System not only helps the patient to recover faster but also in some cases can replace microsurgical soft-tissue transfer and thus allows salvage of the leg in orthopaedic teams lacking advanced reconstructive experience.