Wound care and learning disabilities: use of the Avance NPWT system

Over the past two decades, topical negative pressure wound therapy has gained wide acceptance as a genuine strategy in the treatment algorithm for a wide variety of acute and chronic wounds (Bovill et al, 2008) and over 1000 peer-reviewed publications describing the clinical efficacy and safety of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for all wound types have been published over this period (Vig et al, 2011). Wound care and learning disabilities are very rarely discussed as joint issues. This case study aims to highlight the successful use of topical NPWT on a patient with moderate learning disabilities and examines how wound management should be individualised to meet the needs of the patient.