Comparison of negative pressure wound therapy and conventional dressing methods for fibula free flap donor site management in patients with head and neck cancer.

Abstract

Evaluation of the efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy in fibula free flap donor site management in head and neck cancer. We conducted a single-center retrospective study from 2007 to 2013 comparing fibula free flap donor site healing time after conventional bolster dressing or negative pressure wound therapy. Thirteen patients were treated by conventional dressing and 16 patients were treated by negative pressure wound therapy. The mean graft loss rate was higher in the bolster group (37%) than in the negative pressure wound therapy group (19%). The mean total healing time was significantly shorter in the negative pressure wound therapy group than in the bolster group (67 days vs 163 days; p = .02). The use of negative pressure wound therapy for fibula free flap donor site management facilitates early patient mobilization, ensures better graft acceptance, and significantly decreases the healing time.