Treatment of post-traumatic soft tissue defects by vacuum sealing technique

Objective To investigate the management of posttraumatic soft tissue defects by vacuum sealing technique(VS).?Methods Forty two cases patients with 48 posttraumatic soft tissue defects were treated by the VS following debridement and compared with 126 patients managed by traditional dressing (control group). Wound surface or cavities were filled with polyvinyl alcohol foams with embedded drainage tubes connected with vacuum bottle (negative pressure of 50 to 60 kPa). Wound closure was performed with secondary suturing, or free flap, or loco regional flap and mesh grafts after 5 and 7 days.?Results Forty two cases recovered. No complications (systemic and located) were found. The average time of VS was 7.5 days. There was significant difference between 2 groups in time of secondary closure, times of dressing and decreased the dimensions of the initial wound, total cost of treatment (P0.01). Wound closure was performed in 4 cases with a free flap, by a loco regional (n=8), or by secondary suturing (n=5), by skin grafting (n=25). Six cases were definitively treated with VS.?Conclusion The VS procedure can protect against wound contamination,result in complete evacuation of wound fluids and rapid simulation of dense, well vascularized granulation tissue,thus shortening healing time and eradicating any pre existing infection. The VS is a simple and effective method in treatment of traumatic and chronic soft tissue defects.