HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jones, S M Articles by Shakespeare, P G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jones, S M Articles by Shakespeare, P G

Advances in wound healing: topical negative pressure therapy

Odstock Burns and Wound Healing Charitable Trust, Laing Laboratory, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
MissS M Jones
Odstock Burns and Wound Healing Charitable Trust, Laing Laboratory, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ, UK; Sophie.Jones{at}nhs.net

In clinical practice many wounds are slow to heal and difficult to manage. The recently introduced technique of topical negative pressure therapy (TNP) has been developed to try to overcome some of these difficulties. TNP applies a controlled negative pressure to the surface of a wound that has potential advantages for wound treatment and management. Although the concept itself, of using suction in wound management is not new, the technique of applying a negative pressure at the surface of the wound is. This paper explores the origins and proposed mechanisms of action of TNP therapy and discusses the types of wounds that are thought to benefit most from use of this system.

Abbreviations: TNP, topical negative pressure; PU, polyurethane; PVA, polyvinyl-alcohol; TRAC, therapeutic regulated accurate care

Keywords: topical negative pressure; vacuum therapy; wound healing