Vacuum Assisted Closure Versus Conventional Dressings in Treatment of Open untidy wounds

Abstract

Objective: To compare the vacuum assisted closure versus conventional dressings of wounds
in terms of mean duration of wound healing and change in wound surface area.
Methods: Duration of study was 6 months. It was carried out between April 7, 2012 and
October 7, 2012. A total 100 adult patients of either gender with open wounds were admitted and
managed as indoor patient. The wounds were initially excised surgically. Patients were divided
into two groups. Group 1 includes the patients whose wounds were managed with modified
vacuum assisted closure (MVAC) therapy. Group 2 or Gauze group included patients whose
wounds were managed with conventional gauze dressings. The variables of study were mean
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duration of spontaneous healing/ becoming graftable and change in wound surface area in cm .
Results: Out of 100 patients, 73 (73%) were males while 27 (27%) were females. Mean duration
of wound healing in VAC group was 14.04 ±1.41 whereas mean duration of wound healing in
Gauze group was 9.12 ± 2.43. Independent samples t-test was used to compare duration of
wound healing in both the groups which was statistically significant (p-value 0.001). Mean change
in wound surface in VAC group was 25.66 ± 66.0 whereas mean change in wound surface in
Gauze group was 7.2 ± 6.97. Independent samples t-test was used to compare mean change in
wound surface which was statistically significant (p-value 0.001) in both the groups.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the modified vacuum assisted closure was more safe
and efficacious than moist wound therapy for the treatment of open untidy wounds. Modified
Vacuum Assisted Closure therapy of wounds promotes early healing resulting in significant
decrease in wound surface area in lesser time period