OBJECTIVES: To determine the mean healing time of vacuum assisted wound closure in diabetic foot ulcer patients.
STUDY DESIGN: An interventional case Series.
PLACE AND DURATION: Department of General Surgery, The Royal Oldham Hospital, Oldham, U.K from 1st September 2012 to 30th March 2013.
METHODOLOGY: All patients with diabetic foot ulcer of any size and duration were included in the study that fulfills inclusion criteria. Patients were subjected to VAC dressing which involved the controlled application of sub-atmospheric pressure to the local wound environment, using a sealed wound dressing connected to a vacuum pump. Patients were followed by disappearance of exudates and appearance of granulation tissue and the time of healing of wound.
RESULTS: Among 40 patients studied, 45.0% were between 41 to 50 years of age with male to female ratio was 1.6:1. The mean duration of diabetes in patients was an average of 14 ± 5.65 years. Duration of diabetic foot was 24 ± 6.0 and initial average wound area was 50.6 ± 27.6cm2. After VAC therapy, the wound area ranged from 3.4 to 92.35 cm2, the average area being 41.75 cm2. The actual reduction in wound area attained by VAC therapy varied from 3.4 to 38.6 cm2, with an average reduction of 11.4 ± 4.55 cm2. The percentage reduction in wound area ranged from 10.3% to 62.11%, with an average reduction of 27.9 ± 13.7%. Wounds were healed after VAC therapy for an average of 21.75 ± 10.55 (range, 14 to 40) days.
CONCLUSION: VAC therapy is very effective and useful in the treatment of diabetic foot and ulcers and has an effective role in promotion of proliferation of granulation tissue, reduction in the wound size and healing of wound in lesser time.
Key words: Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Foot, Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC), Wound area, Healing time
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