The Impact of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy on Orthopaedic Infection

Abstract

By hastening the resolution of edema and improving local microcirculation, topical negative pressure wound therapy (TNP) aids the establishment of early wound coverage. Its use in the setting of type III open fractures is reviewed. The author's initial use of TNP for closed surgical incisions and how it morphed its way into being applied to closed surgical wounds with heightened likelihood for infection is presented. Several case studies are presented to illustrate the role and the technique for management of acute or subacute infections involving bone and implant.

Keywords: Antibiotic beads; Integra; Negative pressure wound therapy; Quorum sensing; Surgical site infection; Tissue demarcation; Topical negative pressure; Wound coverage.