Efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy using vacuum-assisted closure combined with photon therapy for management of diabetic foot ulcers

Figures & data

Table 1 Basic clinical information of all participants

Variables	VAC group, n=35	Combined group, n=34
Mean age, years	60.29±4.82	59.56±4.63
Gender, male:female	20:15	21:13
Course of diabetes mellitus, years	6.8±1.5	6.7±1.2
Course of DFU, days	86.8±18.2	82.1±13.8
DFU stage
Wagner’s stage 2	18	18
Wagner’s stage 3	17	16
Postoperative wound surface area, cm^2	29.40±21.42	34.23±21.74

Notes: Data presented as mean ± sD unless otherwise indicated.

Abbreviations: DFU, diabetic foot ulcer; VaC, vacuum-assisted closure.

Table 2 Comparison of clinical outcomes of the two groups of patients

Variables	VAC group, n=35	Combined group, n=34	P-value
Duration of the treatment, days	27.80±3.76	10.71±3.42	<0.0001
Preoperative wound surface area, cm^2	29.40±21.42	34.23±21.74	0.355
Postoperative wound surface area, cm^2	4.40±5.40	4.70±5.05	0.809
Change, cm^2	25.00±16.30	29.53±17.21	0.266
Dressing changing times	22.94±4.54	8.91±2.26	<0.0001
Peak value of VAS score	7.23±1.40	3.71±1.00	<0.0001

Abbreviations: VaC, vacuum-assisted closure; Vas, visual analog scale.

Figure 1 A male patient aged 62 years with subcutaneous abscess on the right side of the foot for 1 month; lateral ulcer, dry scab and nonunion for 2 months; and bipedal swelling and pain for 1 month.

Notes: (A) Before treatment; (B) debridement surgery; (C) VAC combined with photon therapy; (D) 56 days after treatment.
Abbreviation: VaC, vacuum-assisted closure.

Table 3 Comparison of recurrence and amputation rates between the two groups of patients

Variables	VAC group, n=35	Combined group, n=34	P-value
Recurrence, n (%)	5 (14.3)	4 (11.8)	0.674
Amputation, n (%)	2 (5.7)	2 (5.9)	1.000

Abbreviations: VAC, vacuum-assisted closure.