Use of negative pressure wound therapy in the management of extreme crush abdominopelvic injuries: an in-depth case study and literature review.

Abstract

Background: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has significantly transformed wound care, particularly the management of complex injuries and unresponsive wounds. Crush injuries from road traffic accidents pose intricate challenges due to their severity, often requiring multimodal interventions. NPWT accelerates healing by stimulating tissue formation and reducing inflammation; however, its use necessitates careful patient selection and wound assessment for potential complications.

Case report: A 16-year-old male sustained catastrophic crush injuries involving extensive soft tissue damage, bone exposure, bowel perforation, and genitourinary trauma in a vehicular accident involving a farm vehicle run-over event. The patient received various interventions, including NPWT combined with tension sutures for wound management. The case highlights the multidisciplinary approach required to manage primary wounds and complications. NPWT facilitated granulation tissue formation, aiding wound closure without necessitating alternative methods such as skin grafting or flap coverage.

Conclusion: This case underscores NPWT's effectiveness in the management of severe crush injuries. While successful wound closure was achieved, as of this writing postoperative-recovery challenges persist, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary care in long-term recovery. The case reaffirms NPWT as a valuable option in managing extensive injuries resulting from road traffic accidents.