Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Skin Ulceration and Fistula After Surgery for Oral Cancer

Abstract

Oral cancer surgery has a high incidence of wound infection. The anatomy and physiology of the oral and maxillary regions are complex, and wounds often require a long time to heal. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) can accelerate wound healing through the application of negative pressure to the wound. However, there are only a few reports on the use of this therapy in the oral and maxillofacial regions. Herein, the authors report 4 cases of skin ulcers and fistulas after oral cancer surgery treated with NPWT. Negative pressure wound therapy was performed in 4 patients (2 males and 2 females) who underwent resection of oral cancer and flap reconstruction and developed postoperative neck ulcers and fistulas. All 4 cases resulted in the healing of the ulcer and the disappearance of the fistula, and no recurrence was observed. Shortening the duration of treatment with NPWT reduces the patient burden and contributes to the prompt initiation of adjuvant therapy.