Negative pressure wound therapy for traumatic foot and ankle wound: two case reports and review of the literature.

This report describes treatment of patients who presented with open soft tissue injuries andAchilles tendon tears at the posterior ankle and heel from accidents. After appropriate debridement and/or Achilles tendon repair a large wound defect remained as well as a bare Achilles tendon. Negative pressure wound therapy was applied to the Achilles tendon to promote wound healing and healthy granulation. The size of wound decreased and the Achilles tendon was completely covered with granulation within two weeks. The remaining granulation tissue without tendon exposure was completely healed with secondary wound healing and/or skin grafting during the following two weeks after which motion of the ankle was satisfactory. Negative pressure wound therapy is an optional treatment for the complicated wounds where reconstructive surgery with a skin flap cannot be performed.