SynthesisBioMed research international2021
The Role of Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy in Patients with Fracture-Related Infection: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal.
Synthesis in BioMed research international, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Are free flaps a reliable solution to treat massive soft tissue defects in patients with knee periprosthetic joint infection? A systematic review and meta-analysis.EFORT open reviews · 2026Pooled it
- Evaluating the efficacy of combined flap coverage, antibiotic-loaded bone cement and negative pressure irrigation in traumatic osteomyelitis management.International wound journal · 2024Trial
- Review
- Strategic considerations in the treatment of infected nonunion in the lower extremity: a narrative review.International journal of surgery (London, England) · 2026Article
- Influence of Unidirectional Vacuum Application on Bone Healing in Maxillofacial Surgery.Cells · 2025Article
- Current Concepts and Investigations of Fracture-Related Infection.BioMed research international · 2025Article
- Advances in Metal and Metal Oxide Nanomaterials for Topical Antimicrobial Applications: Insights and Future Perspectives.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Pathogens in FRI - Do bugs matter? - An analysis of FRI studies to assess your enemy.Journal of orthopaedics · 2024Article
- [Treatment strategies for fracture-related infections with concurrent soft tissue damage].Unfallchirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2024Review
- Fracture-Related Infection-Epidemiology, Etiology, Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment.Deutsches Arzteblatt international · 2024Review
- Key aspects of soft tissue management in fracture-related infection: recommendations from an international expert group.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2024Review
- Vacuum sealing drainage combined with eggshell-like debridement antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate for calcaneal osteomyelitis.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2023Article
- Advanced Hydrogels Combined with Silver and Gold Nanoparticles against Antimicrobial Resistance.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- The antibiotic bead pouch - a useful technique for temporary soft tissue coverage, infection prevention and therapy in trauma surgery.Journal of bone and joint infection · 2023Review
- Current Concepts of Fracture-Related Infection.International journal of clinical practice · 2023Review
- Complications of the surgical treatment of fractures of the tibial plateau: prevalence, causes, and management.EFORT open reviews · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionFracture-related infection (FRI) is a severe musculoskeletal complication in orthopedic trauma surgery, causing challenges in bony and soft tissue management. Currently, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is often used as temporary coverage for traumatic and surgical wounds, also in cases of FRI. However, controversy exists about the impact of NPWT on the outcome in FRI, specifically on infection recurrence. Therefore, this systematic review qualitatively assesses the literature on the role of NPWT in the management of FRI.
methodsA literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science database was performed. Studies that reported on infection recurrence related to FRI management combined with NPWT were eligible for inclusion. Quality assessment was done using the PRISMA statement and the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.
resultsAfter screening and quality assessment of 775 unique identified records, eight articles could be included for qualitative synthesis. All eight studies reported on infection recurrence, which ranged from 2.8% to 34.9%. Six studies described wound healing time, varying from two to seven weeks. Four studies took repeated microbial swabs during subsequent vacuum dressing changes. One study reported newly detected pathogens in 23% of the included patients, and three studies did not find new pathogens.
conclusionThis review provides an assessment of current literature on the role of NPWT in the management of soft tissue defects in patients with FRI. Due to the lack of uniformity in included studies, conclusions should be drawn with caution. Currently, there is no clear scientific evidence to support the use of NPWT as definitive treatment in FRI. At this stage, we can only recommend early soft tissue coverage (within days) with a local or free flap. NPWT may be safe for a few days as temporarily soft tissue coverage until definitive soft tissue management could be performed. However, comparative studies between NPWT and early wound closure in FRI patients are needed.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.