title: Negative pressure wound therapy in patients with diabetic foot.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study our aim was to compare the results of standard dressing treatment to negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) performed with a vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) device in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the results of 35 patients treated for diabetic foot ulcer between 2006 and 2008. Of these cases, 20 (4 women and 16 men; mean age: 66 years; range: 52-90 years) were treated with standard wet dressings and 16 feet in 15 patients (10 men, 5 women; mean age: 58.9 years; range: 42-83 years) with VAC therapy. The success of treatment was evaluated in terms of hospitalization length and rate of limb salvation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average hospitalization period with VAC treatment was 32 days compared to 59 days with standard dressing treatment. All patients treated with standard dressings eventually had to undergo amputation. However, the amputation rate was 37% in the VAC treated group and 88% of patients had a functional extremity at the end of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VAC therapy, together with debridement and appropriate antibiotic therapy, enables a higher rate of limb salvage, especially in Wagner Grade 3 and Grade 4 ulcers.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Balıkesir University Medical Faculty, Balıkesir, Turkey. aeulusal@gmail.com
authors: Ali Engin
authors: AE
authors: Ulusal
authors: M Sükrü
authors: MS
authors: Sahin
authors: Betül
authors: B
authors: Ulusal
authors: Gökhan
authors: G
authors: Cakmak
authors: Cengiz
authors: C
authors: Tuncay
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents