Performance of a novel negative pressure wound therapy filler in wound contraction

Negative pressure wound therapy promotes wound healing through fluid removal, edema reduction, and mechanical contraction. A novel thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) dressing has been developed to improve exudate evacuation and reduce tissue ingrowth, but its effect on wound contraction compared with reticulated open cell foam (ROCF) remains unclear.

To compare the degree of wound contraction with the TPE dressing, ROCF, or no filler at different wound depths and negative pressure settings in a porcine explant model.

The effect of the materials or lack thereof on wound contraction was investigated at 2 wound depths (shallow, deep) and 3 negative pressure settings (-50 mm Hg, -80 mm Hg, and -125 mm Hg). Wound width was measured at 3 standardized locations before and during therapy. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with contraction.

A total of 810 measurements were obtained. Both the TPE dressing and ROCF demonstrated statistically significantly greater contraction than no filler. In deep wounds, greater contraction was noted with the TPE dressing compared with ROCF. Higher negative pressure and increased wound depth were independently associated with greater contraction. Absolute differences in contraction between dressings were small (<3 mm across all conditions).

The TPE dressing provides equivalent or greater wound contraction compared with ROCF, particularly in deep wounds, without impairing macrodeformation. Given the small magnitude of differences, the clinical relevance of this finding likely depends on additional factors, which should be evaluated in future in vivo studies.