The Use of Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC ) in Soft Tissue Injuries After High Energy Pelvic Trauma
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Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2007 The use of vacuum assisted closure (VAC™) in soft tissue injuries after high energy pelvic trauma Labler, Ludwig ; Trentz, Otmar Abstract: Background: Application of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC™) in soft tissue defects after high- energy pelvic trauma is described as a retrospective study in a level one trauma center. Materials and methods: Between 2002 and 2004, 13 patients were treated for severe soft tissue injuries in the pelvic region. All musculoskeletal injuries were treated with multiple irrigation and debridement procedures and broad-spectrum antibiotics. VAC™ was applied as a temporary coverage for defects and wound conditioning. Results: The injuries included three patients with traumatic hemipelvectomies. Seven patients had pelvic ring fractures with five Morel-Lavallee lesions and two open pelviperineal trauma. One patient suffered from an open iliac crest fracture and a Morel-Lavallee lesion. Two patients sustained near complete pertrochanteric amputations of the lower limb. The average injury severity score was 34.1 ± 1.4. The application of VAC™ started in average 3.8 ± 0.4days after trauma and was used for 15.5 ± 1.8days. The dressing changes were performed in average every 3days. One patient (8%) with a traumatic hemipelvectomy died in the course of treatment due to septic complications. Conclusion: High-energy trauma causing severe soft tissues injuries requires multiple operative debridements to prevent high morbidity and mortality rates. The application of VAC™ as temporary coverage of large tissue defects in pelvic regions supports wound conditioning and facilitates the definitive wound closure DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-006-0090-0 Posted at the Zurich Open Repository and Archive, University of Zurich ZORA URL: https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-156487 Journal Article Published Version Originally published at: Labler, Ludwig; Trentz, Otmar (2007). The use of vacuum assisted closure (VAC™) in soft tissue injuries after high energy pelvic trauma. Langenbeck’s Archives of Surgery, 392(5):601-609. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-006-0090-0 Langenbecks Arch Surg (2007) 392:601–609 DOI 10.1007/s00423-006-0090-0 ORIGINAL ARTICLE The use of vacuum assisted closure (VAC™) in soft tissue injuries after high energy pelvic trauma Ludwig Labler & Otmar Trentz Received: 1 February 2006 /Accepted: 20 July 2006 / Published online: 16 September 2006 # Springer-Verlag 2006 Abstract Keywords Open fractures . Pelvis . Soft tissue defect . Background Application of vacuum-assisted closure Wound conditioning . Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC™) in soft tissue defects after high-energy pelvic trauma is described as a retrospective study in a level one trauma center. Introduction Materials and methods Between 2002 and 2004, 13 patients were treated for severe soft tissue injuries in the Pelvic fractures with critical soft tissue conditions are pelvic region. All musculoskeletal injuries were treated usually the result of high-energy trauma [1]. Open pelvic with multiple irrigation and debridement procedures and fractures are rare and amount to 2–4% of all pelvic fractures ™ broad-spectrum antibiotics. VAC wasappliedasa only [2, 3]. Traumatic hemipelvectomy is an extreme form temporary coverage for defects and wound conditioning. of a pelvic ring fracture and is defined as an unstable Results The injuries included three patients with traumatic ligamentous or osseous hemipelvic injury with rupture of hemipelvectomies. Seven patients had pelvic ring fractures the pelvic neurovascular bundle [4, 5]. Other severe soft with five Morel–Lavallee lesions and two open pelviper- tissue injuries occur after traumatic paraarticular hip ineal trauma. One patient suffered from an open iliac crest amputation. The local and systemic contraindications for fractureandaMorel–Lavallee lesion. Two patients replantation occur in 30 to 50% of all traumatic macro- sustained near complete pertrochanteric amputations of the amputations [6]. Traumatic amputations may be revised to a lower limb. The average injury severity score was 34.1± more proximal level after initial operative procedure [7, 8]. ™ 1.4. The application of VAC started in average 3.8± The high mortality of open pelvic injuries is due to two 0.4 days after trauma and was used for 15.5±1.8 days. The complications: In the early phase, the patient is endangered dressing changes were performed in average every 3 days. by exsanguination and in the following course the sepsis One patient (8%) with a traumatic hemipelvectomy died in determines the lethal outcome [9]. Significant soft tissue the course of treatment due to septic complications. injuries often occur as a part of high-energy injuries of the Conclusion High-energy trauma causing severe soft tissues pelvis and in order to minimize complications they must injuries requires multiple operative debridements to prevent already be recognized and considered when the treatment high morbidity and mortality rates. The application of plan is implemented. Because of a high risk of complica- ™ VAC as temporary coverage of large tissue defects in tions and death, the patients having these injuries have to be pelvic regions supports wound conditioning and facilitates managed aggressively [10]. Essential is exclusion of occult the definitive wound closure. and readily apparent perforations of the genital, urinary, and gastrointestinal tracts. Recognition of open and closed : L. Labler (*) O. Trentz degloving injury patterns and appropriate adherence to Division of Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, treatment guidelines optimize the outcome and avoid University Hospital Zürich, catastrophic complications [11]. Cultures from closed Rämistrasse 100, – 8091 Zürich, Switzerland internal degloving injury of the pelvic region (Morel e-mail: [email protected] Lavallee lesion) were positive in 46% of 24 patients with 602 Langenbecks Arch Surg (2007) 392:601–609 Table 1 Patients and clinical data Patient Gender Age ISSa Associated injuries Head Thorax Abdomen Extremities Spine 1 M 22 41 + + 2 M 23 17 + + 3 M 13 59 + + 4 M 71 22 + + + 5 F 30 34 + + + + 6 M 26 22 + 7 M 33 24 + + 8 F 43 41 + + + + 9 M 30 34 + + 10 M 24 34 + + + + 11 F 47 24 + + 12 M 18 57 + + + 13 M 48 34 + + + M Male and F female a Injury severity score [29] these injuries [12]. The Morel–Lavallee lesion should be wound dressings should remain in place until definitive debrided early, either before or at the time of fracture soft-tissue coverage is obtained. Definitive soft-tissue fixation. The wound should be left open, and repeated closure will be expedited by serial debridements performed surgical debridements of the injured tissue are recommended every 48 to 72 h in a sterile environment [21]. [12]. To prevent septic complications, similar surgical The use of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) as a temporary procedures are recommended in the case of complex wound dressing in open fracture situations was described in perineal injuries as well [13–17]. Fecal diversion and rectal the literature [22–24]. During the last 10 years, VAC™ washout is recommended in the case of rectal injuries of (Kinetic Concepts, Inc., San Antonio, TX, USA) was suc- open pelvic fractures [18–20]. cessfully used in the management of problematic wounds. The principles described for trauma on extremities are The VAC™ therapy represents a temporary protection of soft also valid for the management of the above-mentioned soft tissue defects by means of polyurethane foam, which is tissue injuries associated with a high-energy pelvic trauma. sealed airtight by a polyvinyl foil. A negative topical pres- Open fractures require early aggressive debridement of the sure gradient is generated by a VAC™ unit. In the clinical soft tissues followed by skeletal stabilization. Temporary practice, the VAC™ therapy increases quantitatively and Table 2 Pelvic fractures with associated soft tissue injuries and traumatic amputation Patient Pelvic fracture Associated soft tissue injuries Traumatic amputation Aa Ba Ca Traumatic Open Genitourinary Intestinal Morel– Penetrating hemipelvectomy fractureb tract tract Lavallee trauma 1+ + + 2+ + + 3+ ++++ 4+ + 5 + 6+ + + 7 + 8+ + 9+ + + 10 + + + + 11 + + + 12 + + + + 13 + + + + a AO classification of pelvic fractures [32] b Open fracture according the Gustilo and Anderson classification [33] Langenbecks Arch Surg (2007) 392:601–609 603 qualitatively the granulation tissue formation on the wound surface [25–27]. Well-documented is a significantly improved microperfusion, an increased partial oxygen pressure in the tissue and a reduction of the bacterial colonization (bacterial Amputation clearance) after 4 days [28]. The increased microvessel density, which develops with time, results in an improved granulation formation and in the wound healing as well. ™ + Wound packing We report our experience with the application of VAC + ++ ++ dressing in severe soft tissue injuries in the pelvic region caused by a high-energy trauma. Open abdomen Materials and methods Patients Thirteen patients with severe soft tissue injuries in the pelvic region were treated at a level one trauma center ™ using the commercial VAC Dressing System in the period of urinary bladder between March 2002 and October 2004. The patients were identified by reviewing the hospital trauma registries and their age, associated injuries, injury severity score (ISS) +++ + Colostomy Reconstruction [29],