Original Research
Connecting Multiple Open Wounds to a Single Negative-Pressure Dressing
Am J Orthop. 2007 November;36(11):622-623
Author and Disclosure Information
Richard White, MD, Allison Wade, MD, Jason Calhoun, MD, and Ann Gietler, MD
Dr. White is Assistant Professor, Dr. Wade is Chief Resident, and Dr. Calhoun is Professor and Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri–Columbia, Columbia, Missouri.
Dr. Gietler is an orthopaedic intern, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia.
We present a new technique for connecting open wounds to a negative-pressure device. In this technique, a flexible, small-diameter intravenous tube is used to bridge the gap between open wounds on the same extremity. After these connections are made, the first layer of plastic is placed, and only 1 fenestrated connection is made to the device. This technique allows use of multiple sponges with only 1 fenestrated cap and 1 connection to the device. The smaller intravenous tube must not be placed directly on skin, as it may cause a pressure ulcer underneath.