Assessment of Gauze-Based Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Skin Graft Procedures
Author Information
Author(s): Dunn Raymond M. MD, Ignotz Ron PhD, Mole Trevor PhD, Cockwill John CCRP, Smith Jennifer M. PhD
Primary Institution: Division of Plastic Surgery, UMASS Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
Hypothesis
Gauze-based NPWT could be a useful adjunct to the successful integration of an STSG into the recipient wound bed.
Conclusion
Gauze-based NPWT appears to be an effective addition to the care and management of wounds intended for definitive closure by STSG.
Supporting Evidence
- Median wound area reduced from 65.6 to 60.5 cm2 in the pregraft group.
- Median graft take of 96% was observed in the postgraft group.
- 75% of wounds in the pregraft group were closed by STSG.
Takeaway
Using special gauze to help heal wounds before and after skin grafts can make the healing process better and faster.
Methodology
A prospective, noncomparative multicenter evaluation was carried out with 21 patients in each of the pregraft and postgraft groups.
Potential Biases
Potential investigator bias due to subjective wound assessment measurements.
Limitations
The study lacked a comparator group and used separate cohorts for pregraft and postgraft assessments.
Participant Demographics
Mean age of 51.1 years in the pregraft group and 43.2 years in the postgraft group, with a mixed etiology of wound types.
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