title: [Negative-pressure wound therapy versus standard wound dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot amputation. A randomised controlled trial].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foot amputation wounds in patients with diabetes are complex and treatment is often difficult. At the moment negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is widely used for the treatment of several types of wounds. Nevertheless, the clinical evidence to support the application of this dressing in foot amputation wounds in patients with diabetes is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of NPWT compared with standard wound dressing to treat diabetic foot amputation wounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial. Diabetic patients aged 18 years or older with a foot amputation wound were assigned to treatment with NPWT (A group) or standard wound dressing (B group). Primary efficacy end point was time in reaching 90% of wound granulation. A size of sample of 11 patients per group was used. NPWT was prepared with a polyurethane ether foam dressing, a Nelaton catheter, a transparent adhesive drape and continuous negative pressure of 100 mmHg. The wound was treated every 48-72 h and evaluated weekly. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 24 patients, with a mean age of 61.8 +/- 9 years (79% men), 12 in each group. The average time to reach 90% of granulation was lower in A group (18.8 +/- 6 days versus 32.3 +/- 13.7 days), a statistically significant difference (P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NPWT reduces the granulation time of diabetic foot amputation wounds by 40%, compared with the standard wound dressing.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Vascular, Hospital Dipreca, Santiago de Chile, Chile. dr.gsepulveda@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Espíndola
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maureira
authors.forename: Edgardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ignacio Fernández
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanhueza
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vial
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manterola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001458:Bandages; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D011182:Postoperative Care