Comparative efficacy of vacuum sealing drainage with moist exposed burn ointment versus hydrogel dressing in pediatric open fracture wounds

Xiang Chen ^1,2,3,4, Yu Fang ⁵, Linjun Jiang ^1,2,3,4

⁰Department of Orthopaedics.

Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics. Part B +

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January 14, 2026

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) with moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) significantly speeds healing and reduces pain and inflammation in pediatric open fractures compared to hydrogel dressings. This combination also lowers treatment costs, offering a potentially advantageous approach for managing these challenging wounds.

Area Of Science

Orthopedics
Wound Healing
Pediatric Surgery

Background

Pediatric open fractures pose significant challenges in wound management due to high infection risk and delayed healing.
Effective treatment strategies are crucial for optimizing outcomes in pediatric patients with complex fracture wounds.

Purpose Of The Study

To compare the clinical efficacy of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) combined with moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) versus VSD combined with hydrogel dressings in pediatric open fracture wounds.
To evaluate differences in wound healing time, treatment cost, pain, inflammation, and complications between the two treatment groups.

Main Methods

A retrospective analysis of 222 pediatric patients with refractory open fracture wounds.
Patients were divided into two groups: VSD + MEBO (119 patients) and VSD + hydrogel (103 patients).
Outcomes included wound healing time, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, serum inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, PCT, IL-6), treatment cost, and complication rates.

Main Results

The VSD + MEBO group showed significantly faster wound healing and lower total treatment costs compared to the VSD + hydrogel group (P < 0.001).
Pain intensity (VAS scores on days 3 and 5) and serum inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, PCT, IL-6 on day 7) were significantly reduced in the VSD + MEBO group (P < 0.001).
Overall treatment efficacy and complication rates were comparable between the two groups, indicating similar safety profiles.

Conclusions

VSD combined with MEBO accelerates wound healing, reduces inflammation and pain, and lowers treatment costs in pediatric open fracture wounds.
This combination demonstrates potential clinical advantages for managing pediatric open fractures.
The findings suggest MEBO as a potentially superior adjunct to VSD for these challenging pediatric orthopedic injuries.

Keywords:

hydrogel dressing moist exposed burn ointment open fracture wounds pediatric vacuum sealing drainage

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