Comparative Study of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Versus Conventional Wound Therapy of Lower Limb Ulcers

Wounds and their management are fundamental in the practice of surgery. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) uses negative pressure to assist wound healing. Negative pressure drains fluid from the wound, thus removing the substrate for growth of microorganisms. Negative pressure may also accelerate granulation tissue formation and angiogenesis. The mechanical stimulation of cells by tensile forces also plays a role by increasing cellular proliferation and protein synthesis and promotes the formation of granulation tissue. This study was done to compare the efficacy of NPWT versus conventional wound dressings in the management of lower limb ulcers and to observe wound disinfection, decrease in wound size, appearance of granulation tissue and duration of hospital stay in both groups.50 patients having diabetic ulcers, traumatic ulcers and venous stasis ulcer over the lower limbs were studied.25 cases were randomly chosen for study with negative pressure and 25 cases underwent normal dressing for the wounds.