Clinical study of outcome of vacuum assisted closure in open fractures of tibia at a tertiary hospital

Abstract

Background: Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in the management of the soft tissue 
component of open tibia fractures helps in healing of wound via a sealed sponge or foam 
dressing, removing fluid and exudate, and encouraging blood flow to the wound site. Present 
study was aimed to study outcome of vacuum assisted closure in open fractures of tibia at a 
tertiary hospital. Material and Methods: Present study was single-center, prospective, 
comparative, parallel-group, observational study, conducted in patients aged above 18 years 
of age, haemodynamically stable with open fractures of tibia {G.A.II, IIIA, and IIIB} 
undergone primary internal fixation and Vacuum assisted closure (VAC) application. 
Results: Among 30 patients in present study, majority were male (83.33 %), mean age was 
41.34 ± 14.56 years. The frequency of VAC dressing application was every 4 day per 
dressing from the second day of post-operative period, 5 times VAC dressing done in 15 
cases (50 %), 4 times VAC dressing done in 10 cases (33.33 %) & > 5 times VAC dressing 
done in 5 cases (16.67 %).