Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize the use of topical negative pressure therapy in combat wounds.
Methods: This study was a retrospective review of the records of patients whose wounds were managed with topical negative pressure between April 2007 and March 2008. The main outcome measure was episodes of antibiotic prescription, which was used as a surrogate marker of clinically relevant infection.
Results: Of the 62 cases identified, 25 clinical notes were unavailable and were excluded from the study leaving 37 included cases. All but one of the cases was male with an average age of 29 (19-39) and New Injury Severity Score (NISS) of 21.3 (14.4-28.1). In 20 cases, topical negative pressure was changed less than once per 4.9 days on average, and in the remaining 17 cases, this was done more frequently. Comparison of the rate of antibiotic prescription between these groups reveals a significantly higher rate in the cohort managed with more frequent topical negative pressure changes. However this relationship was not borne out in a multiple variable analysis.
Conclusion: This study describes the use of topical negative pressure in the management of a uniquely challenging group of patients. Statistical analysis of relatively small numbers is challenging but these results support the current complex wound management strategies where wounds are temporized with topical negative pressure for several days following thorough wound debridement. This period allows patients to be physiologically stabilized, other injuries to be addressed and appears not to be associated with increased infections.