Ghulam Rasool, Muhammad Usman Ahmed, Monsif Iqbal.
Vacuum assited wound closure and normal saline dressing in treatment of Gustilo type ii, type iiia and iiib open fracture of tibia.
Rawal Med J Jan ;38(4):382-4.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Vacuum Assisted Wound Closure (VAC) as against normal saline dressing in Gustilo type II and type IIIA,IIIB open tibia shaft fractures. DESIGN: It was a prospective randomized comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of orthopaedics. Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POFs) Hospital ,Wah Cantonment ,from 25, March 2010 to 24, March,2012. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study included a total of 50 patients aged 10-40 years of either sex with open tibial shaft fractures, Gustilo type II,IIIA, and IIIB. Patients were divided into two equal matched pair groups using randomization, Group A patients were treated with VAC therapy and group B patients with normal saline dressing. We compared the site of wound on tibia, and the rate of wound healing in days. A proforma was used to record the information. Data analysis was performed using SPSS package for windows version 16.0. Results were compared using Chi-square test by keeping the p-value of <0.05 as significant. RESULT: Healing of wounds was more rapid in vacuum assisted closure (group A) as compared to normal saline dressing group B. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) Therapy system is a superior modality of wounds treatment for Gustilo type II and type IIIA, IIIB open fractures of tibial shaft as compared to normal saline soaked gauze dressings.

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