Affordable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Using Simplified Techniques: A Novel Approach for Chronic Limb Ulcer Management

Chronic limb ulcers, primarily caused by diabetes mellitus, venous insufficiency, and peripheral arterial disease, presenting critical health and economic problems as they have extended healing time and high recurrence rates. Although Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) has demonstrated improved wound healing and decreased rates of infection compared to standard wound care, it is not widely adopted in resource limited settings where the cost remains prohibitive. This study assesses an economical, makeshift NPWT system using locally available materials. A randomized controlled trial of 50 patients showed that the low-cost NPWT system significantly accelerated wound healing compared to 50 patients using standard saline dressings, with 90% ulcer healing by a mean time of 24 days in the NPWT group against 38 days in the control group (p < 0.01). In addition, the intervention group had a statistically significant greater reduction in ulcer size (2.5 cm²/week vs. 0.9 cm²/week, p < 0.01) and earlier granulation tissue formation (85% vs. 40%, p < 0.05) compared with the control group. Secondary outcomes included decreased pain scores, lower rates of infection, and a 40% decrease in cost of treatment. This study highlights the potential of improvised NPWT systems as a safe and effective treatment for chronic wounds in a resource-poor environment. Keywords: Chronic limb ulcers, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy, NPWT