The Effect of Negative Pressure Therapy on Closed Wound After the Orthopedic Surgery of Lower Limb: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background. Negative-pressure wound therapy is applied increasingly to manage closed wounds. However, no consensus has been reached with regard to surgical site infection and wound complication. Aim. To evaluate the effect of negative pressure therapy on closed wounds after orthopedic surgeries. Methods. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and MEDLINE databases were searched from 1966 to January 2019; the references in the identified studies were also searched. Results. Ten studies on arthroplasty and 3 studies on fractures were included. Significantly few infections appeared in the negative pressure group (odds ratio [OR] = 0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.18-0.46, P < .001; I2 = 0%, P = .80). There was no significant difference for other complications (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.21-1.39, P = .20; I2 = 81%, P < .001). Few patients needed reoperation in the negative pressure group (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.14-0.53, P < .001; I2 = 0%, P = .82). Conclusion. Negative pressure therapy can decrease surgical site infection and reoperation of closed incisions.