Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has become a widely used modality for the treatment of complex wounds. However, patient compliance is frequently difficult due to the need to carry a bulky, noisy electronic device. In this issue of Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, Lerman and colleagues describe a new system that uses no electricity and is about the size of a deck of cards. It is designed to be stored in the clinic and applied almost as simply as a standard wound dressing. Four cases are reviewed to demonstrate that the device is efficacious and helps to encourage patient compliance. No statistically significant outcomes are presented. By removing compliance barriers, this device may encourage more frequent NPWT applications for small wounds.
2010 Diabetes Technology Society.