Considering the high number of post-surgical infections/complications after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the use of Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been found to be useful in reducing the number of these complications (for example- hyperaemia, dehiscence and necrosis) and also abridged the need for reintervention, as deduced from a study by Camilo Partezani Helito et al. in ‘BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders’ journal.

After TKA, wound healing complications are fundamental reasons of prosthesis infection and pitiable post-operative growth of patients. This study here was performed to distinguish between the complications of patients undergoing TKA who used a portable NPWT device immediately after the surgery phase, with those of control group.

Overall, 296 patients under evaluation were stratified in 2 groups: Group 1 – prospective evaluated, those who used NPWT for 7 days in the postoperative period and, Group 2 – historical control group, those who used the usual dressings. Comorbidities, epidemiological data, local factors concerning surgical wound and complications were assessed.

As found, 153 (51.7%) patients had at least 1 risk factor for wound complications. The patients who used NPWT experienced a lesser complication rate (28.5% versus 45.7%) and a lower rate of reintervention in the operating room (2% versus 8.5%). In group 1, patients had a lower frequency of hyperaemia , skin necrosis and wound dehiscence, etc. Details of the associated complications have been portrayed in following table: