PURPOSE: Negative pressure therapy has been accepted as a valuable adjunct for wound closure in adults; however reports on its effectiveness in young children and neonates are limited. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of negative pressure wound therapy in children. METHODOLOGY/STATISTICS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on children treated with negative pressure wound therapy at a large pediatric hospital between January 2003 and December 2005. Data was collected on wound type, treatment method and duration and complications. Wound volumetric measurements were calculated at the start and end of therapy. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients with 82 wounds were identified. The mean age was 8.5 years (range 7 days – 18 years). Twenty patients (29%) were 2 years of age or younger, including 8 neonates. Wound types included: pressure ulcers (n=13), extremity wounds (n=18), dehisced surgical wounds (n=19), open sternal wounds (n=10), wounds with fistula (n=3) and complex abdominal wall defects (n=6). Low suction pressures (< 100 mmHg) were generally used in children younger than 4 years of age. Following negative pressure therapy, 93% of wounds decreased in volume. The average wound volume decrease was 80% (p<0.01, n=56). CONCLUSIONS: Negative pressure therapy can be effectively used to manage a variety of wounds in children and neonates. No major complications were identified in our retrospective review. Prospective studies are required to better refine the use of this technology in children.