Use of disposable negative pressure wound therapy in 16 podiatry clinic patients with chronic wounds

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Disposable mechanical negative pressure wound therapy (dNPWT) can help manage lower extremity wounds in the outpatient clinic. PURPOSE: We assessed dNPWT use in 16 patients at a podiatry clinic. METHODS: Patients were treated between October 31, 2019 and December 16, 2021. All patients received dNPWT with dressing changes every 2 to 3 days. Demographics, baseline wound and subsequent wound visit data, and treatments were recorded. Wound healing outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Average patient age was 59.6 ± 8.9 years old. Patient comorbidities included poor nutritional status, diabetes, and hypertension. Wound types consisted of 6 diabetic foot ulcers, 9 surgical wounds, and 1 pressure injury. At baseline, the average wound age was 15.6 weeks, average area was 5.5 cm2, and average volume was 3.3 cm3. The average time from presentation to end of dNPWT was 45.5 days. In this timeframe, wounds improved in granulation tissue amount (81%), reduced in area (63%), and reduced in volume (69%). By the end of treatment, a majority of patients (88%) displayed 76% to 100% wound bed coverage with healthy granulation tissue. The remaining 12% showed <76% coverage with granulation tissue. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, 14 of 16 patients displayed improvement in wound area, volume, and granulation tissue amount during dNPWT treatment.