Management of Large Soft-tissue Wounds with Negative Pressure Therapy-Lessons Learned from the War Zone

Abstract

The recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have demonstrated that body armor has led to increase survival of combatants but the extremity injuries have been alarming. The increased numbers of extremity injuries have led to the acceptance and use of negative pressure therapy (NPT) in managing large wounds. This article reviews some of the lessons learned in treating wounds of the upper extremity using NPT.