Skin grafting of a chronic leg ulcer with combined Versajet™‐V.A.C. therapy

Abstract

A new method for surgical wound debridement is the Versajet hydrosurgery technique. This technique uses a high velocity jet of sterile saline with a speed up to 1,078 km/h (670 miles/h). By using the Venturi effect (fluid speeds up in a restriction, reducing its pressure and producing a partial vacuum), a simultaneous vacuum is created across the operating window of the handpiece. The application of this high velocity fluid jet to a chronic wound enables precise debridement without collateral tissue damage. The vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C.) therapy is used for chronic wounds to induce faster wound healing. This system creates a vacuum-induced negative pressure to a specific wound area resulting in an accelerated formation of granulation tissue in the wound bed. We present a patient who experienced rapid wound healing when both of these techniques were combined to clean the wound. After split-thickness skin grafting, V.A.C. therapy was continued. The result was excellent graft acceptance with complete wound healing. This case is unique in that a combination of both therapies resulted in complete wound healing.