Negative pressure therapy for lower limb complex wounds

Management of lower limb wounds can present challenge to reconstructive surgeon if options for reconstruction are limited. The situation worsens when such patients have co-morbidities like trauma to vital organs, diabetes mellitus, and generalized disorders which impair wound healing. Negative pressure wound therapy has gained popularity in the management of wounds in the last decade. We have used a modified form of commercially available V.A.C TM because of its high cost and universal unavailability. Fifty-eight patients with 61 complex wounds of the lower limb were included in the study over a period of 3 years. The average number of dressing changes was 3.2 and average duration from start of therapy till the wound was ready for coverage was 13.5 days. Fifty-seven wounds were skin grafted and four wounds were covered with local turnover flaps. We have found the modified vacuum dressing to be an effective technique for treating challenging wounds of the lower limb when options for reconstruction are limited. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.