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In Patients with Traumatic Extremity Wounds Is Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Superior as Compared to Standard Dressing Changes?

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Difficult Decisions in Trauma Surgery

Part of the book series: Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach ((DDSURGERY))

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Abstract

Over the past 25 years, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has gained acceptance as an effective treatment modality for traumatic extremity soft tissue defects and wounds. Its rapid adoption into the armamentarium of a majority of trauma surgeons and wound care specialists could imply that it is superior to more traditional methods of wound care. Specifically, NPWT is alleged to accelerate healing at the cellular level through a variety of physiologic mechanisms, which should translate into significant improvements in patient outcomes. While proponents claim that NPWT is associated with enhanced wound healing, shorter hospital length of stays, lower rates of infection, and a better quality of life, an in-depth review of the literature may suggest otherwise. Therefore, the aim of this chapter is to determine if patients with traumatic extremity wounds benefit from NPWT when compared to standard dressings (wet-to-moist gauze) regarding healing, timing, infections, and life quality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Brett M. Tracy, Deepika Koganti & Christopher J. Dente

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  1. Brett M. Tracy
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  2. Deepika Koganti
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  3. Christopher J. Dente
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Correspondence to Christopher J. Dente .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Kenneth Wilson

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Selwyn O. Rogers

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Tracy, B.M., Koganti, D., Dente, C.J. (2022). In Patients with Traumatic Extremity Wounds Is Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Superior as Compared to Standard Dressing Changes?. In: Wilson, K., Rogers, S.O. (eds) Difficult Decisions in Trauma Surgery. Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81667-4_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81667-4_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-81666-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-81667-4

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