The use of negative pressure wound therapy on diabetic foot ulcers: A preliminary controlled trial

Abstract

The purpose of this clinical study was to investigate the effects of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on the healing of diabetic foot ulcers and to compare this dressing with traditional moist gauze dressing as a treatment used prior to other wound closure techniques, such as flaps or grafts. Twenty-four diabetic patients were randomly divided into two groups: NPWT group and control group. Initially, the mean surface area of the diabetic wounds was 109cm(2) in the NPWT group and 94.8cm(2) in the control group. The mean duration of wound care (until the wounds were covered with granulation tissue) was 11.25 days in the NPWT group and 15.75 in the control group (p=0.05); following NPWT or moist guaze dressing, the mean surface area of the wounds was 88.6cm(2) in NPWT group and 85.3 cm(2) in control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the use of NPWT may be an alternative therapy to achieve a faster granulating wound bed in diabetic foot ulcers in order to prepare the wound bed for other closure techniques. Further studies are needed to clarify effects and indications and to modify the technique of this treatment for nonhealing wounds.