A Retrospective Study Assessing Management of Infected Chronic Wounds: A Comparative Study

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Abstract (English)

Abstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of this economical modification of negative
pressure wound therapy with conventional dressings in the healing of infected chronic wounds in a West Bengal
region.
Material & Methods: The Present study was single-center, open labelled randomised control trial conducted in
the Department Of General Surgery, Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital Budge Budge,
Kolkata West Bengal, India. Study duration was of 12 months. 100 patients with chronic ulcers were randomly
divided in two groups of 50 each as Group A (Negative Pressure Wound Therapy) and Group B (Conventional
Dressing).
Results: Mean age of study subjects was 52.8 ± 13.5 and 55.65 ± 12.6 years in Conventional and NPWT group
respectively. The difference was statistically non-significant. Male Preponderance was observed in both groups
(64% in Conventional and 58% in NPW group respectively). The difference was statistically non-significant. Most
common type of chronic ulcer observed in present study was diabetic ulcer (67%) followed by venous ulcers
(22%) and pressure ulcers (11%). No difference was seen in the study groups on the basis of type of ulcer. At the
end of 1 and 2 weeks, 54% and 94% cases of NPWT group had granulation tissue as compared to only 20% and
64% cases in conventional group. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). By the end of 3 weeks,
96% of the cases in NPWT group had granulation tissue as compared to 88% cases in conventional group. The
wound contraction rate was significantly faster with NPWT therapy. The difference in the rate of wound
contraction was apparent since 1st week. By week 3, mean percentage of wound contraction was 90.85% in NPWT
therapy as compared to 75.65% in conventional group patients. The difference was statistically significant
(p<0.05). Decrease in wound dimensions was significantly faster in NPWT group patients as compared to
conventional group. The difference was statistically significant from week 2 (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with its modification appears to be superior compared to
conventional dressing in terms of early appearance of granulation tissue, rapid contraction, overall faster healing,
decrease in hospital stay and much more cost-effective.