Low-cost negative pressure wound therapy system seen as safe, effective alternative
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Use of a low-cost negative pressure wound therapy system may be an effective and safe alternative compared with commercially available negative pressure wound therapy systems in a resource-challenged setting, according to results.
Hansel Gould B. Cocjin , MD, DPBO, and colleagues randomly assigned 36 patients with acute traumatic injuries to the upper or lower limbs with substantial soft tissue involvement and skin loss not amenable to primary closure to be managed with either a low-cost, locally developed negative pressure wound therapy system (AquaVac) or a commercially available Vacuum-Assisted Closure Advanced Therapy System (VAC ATS; KCI). Researchers compared time to apply the dressing, exudate levels, amount of granulation tissue, wound size reduction, average cost of treatment, VAS pain scores and complications between the two groups.
Results showed a small but statistically insignificant advantage in application time, pain during dressing changes and wound contraction percentage with the AquaVac system vs. the VAC ATS system. During the course of treatment, researchers found the amount of exudate, granulation tissue coverage and VAS scores were comparable between the two groups. Researchers also did not observe any wound or peri-wound complications. However, the AquaVac system cost $63.75 per patient, which was significantly less expensive than the VAC ATS system at $491.38 per patient.
“This study is about using simple, off the shelf items — things that we’d never think twice of using — and putting them to use to achieve what more sophisticated systems are doing to address a pressing need that most of the population can’t afford. It is about another example that lack of opportunity and resources is never an excuse for the lack of achievement,” Cocjin told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “Rather than stifle creativity, austere environments ought to encourage innovations, much like stress causes plants to bloom and bear fruit.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Cocjin reports he received grants and personal fees from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, through the Department of Science & Technology Region IV and Western Visayas Health Research & Development Consortium. Please see the study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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