Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of VAC in wound healing.

Materials and Methods: This prospective study was done from September 2016 to August 2017 over 20 patients who presented in our hospital with severe wounds. These wounds were either traumatic, idiopathic or iatrogenic; either infective or non-infective. We had 13 males and 7 females in our study, with age ranging from 15 to 65 years. VAC was applied to all the wounds in continuous mode at pressure of 125 mmHg. The parameters assessed were nature of the wound, status of infection along with infecting organism, length of VAC application, number of dressings required and complications, if any, related to the use of this therapy. All patients were followed for a period of 3 months.

Results: Among 20 patients, we lost 1 patient in follow-up. Rest 19 patients (95%) were treated successfully. Cost of dressings was less. There was a significant reduction in wound infection in infected cases and a rapid rate of granulation tissue formation in all cases. Grafting in the form of PTSG was seen in all the grafted patients. There was no major complication.

Conclusion: VAC is a safe and reliable option in the treatment of wounds with better healing, graft uptake and reduced hospital stay. It appears as a promising alternative for the management of various wound types including infected wounds.

Keywords: Wound healing, Vacuum assisted closure.

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Irfan Andleeb Gul

Senior Resident, Orthopaedics at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, New Delhi