Comparing Conventional Dressing to Vacuum Assisted Dressing – A Hospital based Prospective Comparative Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a major complication of diabetes, leading to significant morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Traditional wound care methods often yield suboptimal outcomes, prompting the need for advanced therapies. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy has emerged as a promising technique to enhance wound healing and reduce complications in DFUs.

Objectives: To assess the impact and efficacy of vacuum-assisted dressing in comparison to conventional saline dressing, and to evaluate its benefits in promoting wound healing in chronic diabetic ulcers.

Methods: This was a hospital based, prospective, comparative observational study conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital & Post Graduate Institute, Puducherry, India between January 2024 and December 2024.

Results: A total of 64 patients were enrolled, evenly divided into VAC and CD groups. Baseline characteristics, including age, gender, comorbidities, and BMI, were comparable between the groups. Over two weeks, significant improvements in wound healing parameters were observed in the VAC group. By Week 1, the mean ulcer size reduced significantly in the VAC group (4.8 cm² vs. 6.5 cm², p = 0.001), with further reductions by Week 2 (3.8 cm² vs. 4.9 cm², p = 0.001). Granulation tissue appeared earlier and more frequently in the VAC group, with 50% of patients developing granulation tissue by Week 2 compared to 21.9% in the CD group (p = 0.019). The Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) scores also improved more significantly in the VAC group by Week 2 (26.6 vs. 33.5, p < 0.001). VAC therapy resulted in faster wound healing, with a 40.4% reduction in ulcer surface area compared to 11.2% in the CD group (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that VAC therapy is a safe, effective, and superior alternative to conventional dressing for managing chronic DFUs, promoting faster wound healing and greater patient satisfaction.