Four Challenging Lower Extremity Wounds Healed with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Four patients with chronic wounds were treated with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy as a last resort to attempt to achive wound closure after multiple failed treatments with topical dressings, enzymatic agents, and surgical interventions.

Patient #1: 91 year old male with stage IV pressure ulcer on the left heel, ulcer age of 18 months, past treatments included hydrocolloids, collagen ointments, zinc-based ointments, and surgical debridement. NPWT treatment days: 42, achieved 98% closure.

Patient #2: 65 year old female with full thickness diabetic ulcer on the right plantar regionof the foot, ulcer age of 60 months, past treatments included ionized silver dressings, enzymatic debridement, and surigical debridement. NPWT treatment days: 120, 99% wound closure was attained.

Patient #3: 67 year old male with full thickness stage IV pressure ulcer on the left lateral foot, left heel, and left plantar regio, ulcer ages 48 months, past treatments included ionized silver dressings, zinc-based ointments, and surgical debridement. NPWT treatment days: 58, 97% closure attained.

Patient #4: 74 year old female with full thickness pressure ulcer on the left heel, ulcer age 36 months, past treatments included topical antimicrobial dressings and surgical debridement. NPWT treatment days: 41, achieved 99% closure.

Outcomes: All of these patients has non-healing wounds that fialed to respond to multiple other treatment regimens, all of the patients achived at least 97% wound closure on NPWT. Concurrent co-morbid factors complicated each of these patients' healing potential; therefore, it can be suggested that NPWT was the key factor in healing these wounds.