Abstract Aim: The aim of the study was to study how negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) aids in wound healing, limb salvage, and reduces the need for flap surgeries in foot and ankle crush injuries. Methods: A retrospective study conducted from January 2018 to January 2023, involving 108 patients with foot and ankle injuries requiring debridement and NPWT. Wound healing, granulation tissue formation, wound shrinkage, number of NPWT applications, swab culture, and flap surgeries post-NPWT therapy were assessed. Results: Among the 108 cases (94 males and 14 females), 82 had bony injuries, 26 had soft tissue injuries, and 32 had comorbidities. After debridement and NPWT (100–150 mm Hg), the average number of NPWT sessions per patient was 1.7, with an average wound shrinkage of 1.8 cm 2 /day. Of the 108 patients, 24 were culture positive; 77 (73%) required only skin grafts, while 31 (27%) needed flap surgeries. Nine of ten limbs were salvaged in wounds with MESS score >7. Postoperative complications occurred in seven patients, five of whom had comorbidities. Conclusion: NPWT therapy significantly improves wound healing by promoting granulation tissue formation, reducing edema, and enhancing graft uptake. It decreases the need for flap surgeries, especially cross-legged flaps, and reduces complication rates. NPWT is superior to traditional methods for complex foot and ankle wounds.
Thangamani et al. (Tue,) studied this question.