"Jelly VAC" for Negative-Pressure Therapy for Complex Wound Closure: A Report of Two Cases.

CASE: A 35-year-old man sustained an open calcaneal fracture with bone loss, and a 57-year-old woman sustained an avulsion of the entirety of the plantar skin. Both patients were treated with multiple debridements and soft-tissue coverage. "Jelly-VAC" (vacuum-assisted closure) therapy was used after each debridement and during the soft-tissue coverage.

CONCLUSION

Jelly-VAC therapy is a promising alternative that allows negative-pressure therapy with the use of ultrasound jelly to prevent air leakage into the wound. We propose using this technique in areas where obtaining a seal is difficult, where VAC therapy is contraindicated because of adhesive dressings (i.e., with damaged or poor-quality skin), or when long-term VAC therapy is needed to prevent wound maceration or there is a need for "VAC holidays."