Autologous fat grafting combined with negative pressure wound therapy in severe diabetic foot ulcer: a case study

Hard-to-heal wounds are a surgical challenge, and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most common and severe varieties. Previous studies have shown that autologous fat grafting (AFG) and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) have the potential to promote wound healing. This case study describes how these two methods together helped in the healing of a serious DFU.

A 65-year-old female patient had a severe DFU on her right foot, with a 30-year history of disease and renal failure. By the time symptoms were evident, regular dressing changes and antibiotic treatment were inadequate. She received surgical debridement, AFG and NPWT. Finally, as the granulation tissue covered the full wound bed, the wound was closed by split-thickness skin grafting. One month later, the DFU was fully healed with no recurrences.

The application of AFG or components of adipose tissue to treat hard-to-heal wounds has been researched at both the molecular level and in clinic. In this case, we have proved the curative effect of jointly using AFG and NPWT.