Vacuum-assisted wound closure: a new approach to spinal wounds with exposed hardware.

Study Design: The use of vacuum-assisted therapy to close upper thoracic and thoracolumbar spinal wounds was studied retrospectively. Two patients whose wounds failed conservative management were successfully treated by negative pressure therapy.

Objectives: The authors evaluated the efficacy of applying vacuum therapy on patients with exposed spinal hardware and summarized current knowledge about this treatment.

Summary Of Background Data: Vacuum therapy was applied three times on two patients.

Methods: Success was defined as a stable, closed wound that required no future surgery and had no signs of chronic infection.

Results: Both patients' wounds were closed successfully and have received follow-up treatment for up to 10 months with no sign of recurrence.

Conclusions: The cases illustrate the usefulness of vacuum-assisted therapy as an adjunct in closing complex back wounds with exposed spinal hardware. In the authors' experience, it helps establish a soft tissue envelope for wound healing and simplifies the need for future surgery.