Closed-Incision Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy in Proximal and Distal Femur Megaprosthetic Reconstructions after...

Objective  Surgical management for bone tumors is aggressive in nature and frequently followed by wound-related complications (WRCs). To minimize these events, different strategies have been employed, with closed-incision negative-pressure wound therapy (ciNPWT) emerging as a potential adjuvant. With this study we intend to assess the impact of this technique in minimizing WRCs in patients with proximal and distal femur tumors treated with megaprosthesis. Methods  This was an observational retrospective study including 41 participants diagnosed with proximal or distal femur tumors treated with wide resection and reconstruction using a megaprosthesis. Patients were divided into two groups based on the postoperative surgical dressing applied: the vacuum-assisted closure group (VAC) received ciNPWT; and the non-VAC group that received conventional dressings. Data regarding postoperative WRCs and other potential variables of interest were recorded. Statistical analysis was carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics, version 24.0. Results There were 20 patients included in the VAC and 21 in the non-VAC group. The majority of patients presented no complications and there were no differences between groups in terms of WRCs, including infection. Nonetheless, wound dehiscence and persistent fluid leakage had a positive correlation with the diagnosis of infection, which all together presented correlation with the need for surgical revision. Conclusion  Despite the absence of statistical significance, ciNPWT seems to help minimize wound dehiscence, persistent wound leakage and surgical site infections in patients with proximal and distal femur bone tumors treated with megaprosthesis. Also, wound dehiscence and persistent wound leakage correlate well with surgical site infection, and those three parameters correlate with the need for surgical revision.