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Incisional Vacuum-Assisted Wound Closure in Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Acetabular Fracture Surgery

The American Journal of Orthopedics. 2009 September;38(9):446-449
September 1, 2009|The American Journal of Orthopedics
Reddix RN;Tyler HK;Kulp B;Webb LX
Author and Disclosure Information

Robert N. Reddix, Jr., MD, Holly K. Tyler, BS, Brenda Kulp, RN, BSN, and Lawrence X. Webb, MD

Dr. Reddix is Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, and Director of Orthopaedic Trauma, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, John Peter Smith Hospital, Fort Worth, Texas.

Ms. Tyler is Medical Student, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Ms. Kulp is Orthopaedic Trauma Coordinator, and Dr. Webb is Professor and Director of Orthopaedic Trauma, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

We studied the effect of incisional vacuum-assisted closure (IVAC) on wound complications (dehiscences, infections) associated with surgical treatment of acetabular fractures in morbidly obese patients (body mass index, >40 kg/m2). No wound complications were found in 19 consecutive patients over 5 years of IVAC use. IVAC is an attractive treatment adjunct for minimizing postoperative wound complications in morbidly obese patients undergoing acetabular fracture surgery.

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