According to the recent study published in the JAMA, among patients with severe open fracture of the lower limb, the negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) does not improve the patient’s self-rated disability rating score at 12 months as compared to the standard wound dressing. Open fractures of the lower limb can lead to major life-changing complications. A recent multicenter trial involving 460 patients (16 years or older) assessed the disability, rate of deep infection, and quality of life in patients with severe open fracture of the lower limb treated with NPWT vs standard wound management after the first surgical debridement of the wound.
The patients who presented more than 72 hours after injury and inability to complete questionnaires were excluded. Intervention: Patients were randomized to receive either NPWT (n = 226) in which an open-cell solid foam or gauze was placed over…
