A Non-healing Sinus of the Lower Leg 5 Years After Vacuum-assisted Closure Therapy Due To a Gossypiboma.

ABSTRACT

Since its introduction, vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C.® Therapy™, KCI, San Antonio,Tex) therapy has proven to be an adequate and noninvasive method in the treatment of complicated wounds. Vacuumassisted closure can be used in the treatment of many types of chronic wounds, such as venous stasis ulcers, pressure ulcers, dehisced surgical wounds, arterial and diabetic ulcers, and a wide variety of miscellaneous, long-existing wounds. Although complications related to its use are rare; localized superficial skin irritation is the most common complication reported in the literature. Further complications involve pain, infection, bleeding, and fluid depletion. Although rare, severe complications, such as toxic shock syndrome, anaerobic sepsis, or thrombosis have been reported. This case report presents an unusual complication of vacuum-assisted closure therapy, which to the authors' knowledge has only once been reported in the literature.