Negative pressure wound therapy as a definitive treatment for upper extremity wound defects: A systematic review

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) represents one of the many solutions for complex wounds of the upper extremity. The goal of this study was to investigate the most common indications for definitive treatment of wound defects in the upper extremity with NPWT and to report revision surgery outcomes after its use. A systematic review of the literature was performed. The following keywords and their combinations were used: "upper extremity," "arm," "forearm," "wrist," "hand," "finger" AND "negative-pressure wound therapy," "VAC therapy," "vacuum assisted closure." A total of 45 articles were included, regrouping 404 cases of NPWT in the upper extremity. The forearm was involved in 53% of cases, followed by hand (36%), fingers (10%), and arm (1%). Seventeen different indications were cited, the most common of which were radial forearm flap reconstruction (23%), burn wounds (18%), and compartment syndromes (17%). Of the cases, 90% did not require any subsequent surgical procedure, as opposed to 6% considered partial failures requiring minor revisions and 4% total failures requiring major revisions. Closure of radial forearm flap donor site required the most revision procedures when treated with NPWT. NPWT can be used for several indications pertaining to the reconstruction of the upper extremity. Positive outcomes as a definitive treatment are demonstrated in this systematic review, which reaffirms NPWT as a potent tool for reconstructive endeavours.