Vacuum sealing drainage therapy in the presence of an external fixation device

RATIONALE Vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) is widely utilized for treating traumatic wounds. PATIENT CONCERNS It is particularly difficult and time consuming to use in combination with an external fixator. DIAGNOSES This is because the hardware or pins used for fixation interfere with maintaining a seal, resulting in poor adhesion and subsequent air leakage. INTERVENTIONS To resolve this problem, we have devised a new method for sealing the wound dressing, while maintaining the required vacuum.When using this technique, a rubber strip is wrapped around each pin in 3 circles outside the plastic drape, and then tightly tied. OUTCOMES After completing this procedure, a vacuum is obtained, and any air leakage stops. We employed this technique to treat a cohort of patients in our department over a period of two years, and obtained good healing of soft tissue without air leakage, as well as good clinical outcomes. LESSONS We have observed that patients treated with this method experienced good clinical outcomes without air leakage, and we recommend its use in treating cases where an external fixation device is present.