Continuous negative pressure wound therapy in the treatment of a gigantic trophic leg ulcer

to present a therapeutic algorithm for chronic venous insufficiency complicated with ulceration, using etiologic treatment combined with local treatment by negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) before and after skin grafting.

we are discussing a 59 years-old patient with a lower leg gigantic, circumferential trophic lesion. The aetiology was combined, post-traumatic and chronic venous insufficiency, with 30 years of evolution.

the treatment was applied in two surgical steps. Initially the pathological refluxes were interrupted; secondarily a skin graft was applied, preceded and followed by NPWT until graft intake. The wound healed completely; patient developed secondary foot lymphoedema.

1. Case treatment particularity consists in using a combination of etiologic and local treatment, combined with adjuvant NPWT. 2. Secondary lymphoedema developed due to circumferential location of the lesion. 3. Continuous NPWT has proven its efficiency in chronic ulcer before and after skin grafting, reducing costs and duration of treatment.