Negative pressure wound therapy on diabetic foot ulcer

The effects of negative pressure wound therapy ([NPWT], V.A.C.® Therapy, KCI, San Antonio, Tex) were compared with standard dressings in 45 patients with diabetic foot ulcers who were admitted to the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical Park Hospital, Bursa, Turkey. Twenty-four patients were randomly divided into 2 groups-NPWT group and control group. Initially, the mean surface area of wounds in the NPWT group was 109 cm2, the control group 94.8 cm2. The mean duration of open wound care was 11.25 days in the NPWT group and 15.75 days in the control group (P = 0.05). After wound management, mean surface area of the diabetic wounds was 88.6 cm2 in the NPWT group, and 85.3 cm2 in the control group (P < 0.05). The use of NPWT may be an effective initial wound therapy to achieve faster wound bed granulation in diabetic foot ulcers. Further studies are needed to clarify the effects and indications and to modify the technique of this alternative treatment for use on nonhealing wounds.