Bagging an Extremity for Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Wound Healing
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a key treatment for complex wounds.
• Achieving an airtight seal for NPWT on the complex anatomy of the hand and upper extremities presents significant challenges.
• Traditional NPWT application methods are often difficult to adapt for extensive defects on limbs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative technique for applying NPWT to extensive upper extremity defects.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of achieving an airtight seal for NPWT on a hand and forearm defect.
• To report the outcomes of this novel NPWT application method in a clinical case.

Main Methods:

• A patient with an extensive right hand and forearm defect underwent free fibula osteocutaneous flap transfer.
• The remaining wound was covered with a split-thickness skin graft.
• Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was applied by enclosing the entire extremity in a sterile bag, sealed proximally to create an airtight environment.

Main Results:

• The sterile bag technique successfully created an airtight seal for NPWT on the upper extremity.
• The treatment facilitated the healing of the split-thickness skin graft.
• Excellent clinical results were achieved in managing the extensive defect.

Conclusions:

• A simple and innovative method for applying NPWT to upper extremity defects was successfully demonstrated.
• Enclosing the entire extremity in a sterile bag is an effective strategy for achieving airtight seals in challenging anatomical locations.
• This technique offers a viable solution for promoting wound healing in complex hand and forearm injuries.