Therapeutic Taping to Offload Wound Margin Strain and as an Adjunct to Wound Closure: A Case Report

Abstract

Introduction. Wound complications are common, difficult to manage, and carry a high economic burden. They are challenging to physicians and a burden to society. Case Report. An 86-year-old male with a history of diabetes was diagnosed with spinal suppurative osteomyelitis and underwent spinal debridement and debridement of dead bone, which required an incision of approximately 9 cm in length. Poor wound healing was noted on postoperative day 5, and wound healing had not been achieved by postoperative day 82. The periphery of the wound was stretched using a proprietary elastic therapeutic tape beginning on postoperative day 82, and daily routine disinfection was maintained thereafter. Wound healing was achieved after 2 months of the aforementioned routine. No additional wound changes were noted at the 6-month follow-up after wound healing was confirmed. Conclusions. Use of elastic therapeutic taping aided in healing a chronic nonhealing wound after spinal surgery in 1 case. The mechanism of action is discussed and analyzed to provide clinical evidence for such treatment.