title: The Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) device for hastened attachment of a superficial inferior-epigastric flap to third-degree burns on hand and fingers.
abstract: The vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) device has a wide range of clinical applications, including treatment of infected surgical wounds, traumatic wounds, pressure ulcers, wounds with exposed bone and hardware, diabetic foot ulcers, and venous stasis ulcers. Increased release of growth factors has been described, leading to improved vascularization and thereby formation of new tissue. The system is also used in burn surgery for reconstructive purposes. In this case report, a patient suffered from a third-degree burn injury to the dorsum of the hand with exposure of tendons, necessitating the use of a flap reconstruction. The patient was treated with a superficial inferior-epigastric artery-based flap and the VAC system was applied in a created glove-like shape. Hastened attachment of the flap onto the exposed fingers was observed after 4 days. The author reports on the additional use of the VAC system to hasten flap attachment in a patient with a burn injury to the dorsum of the hand.
authors.affiliation: Division of Burns, Washington Hospital Center, DC, 20010, USA.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weinand
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014618:Vacuum; D014945:Wound Healing