Comparative Study between Treatment by Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC), Treatment by Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Traditional Treatment of Diabetic Foot Infection

Abstract

Aim: To compare the therapeutic effects of vacuum-assisted closure therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and traditional moist dressings in improving the healing process of chronic diabetic foot infection. Study design: A prospective randomized study. Patients and Methods: A total of 75 patients, with a chronic diabetic foot infection, were included in this study. After surgical debridement, all patients were randomly classified into 3 groups, with 25 patients in each group. Group A were treated by VAC therapy, Group B were treated by HBOT and Group C were treated by traditional moist dressings respectively. Wounds were evaluated every week for six weeks as regards the size, timing of healthy granulation tissue formation, local wound complications, and number of debridement sessions. Results: There was a significant reduction in the wound size in group A with a mean of 70.25 %, B with 62.65 % compared to group C with 32.46 %. As regards healthy granulation tissue formation onset, it was more rapid in group A with a mean of 6.5, B with 7 compared to group C with 14 days. As regards the number of debridement sessions and local wound complications they were significantly less in group A than the other two groups. Conclusion: Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy appears to be safe, more effective with less complications than the other two methods in the treatment of diabetic foot infection, and can be used with HBOT simultaneously if indicated.