Michael J. Cimba
| Michael J. Cimba |
Michael J. Cimba1
Peter Rekawek2, Neeraj Panchal1
1Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, 2Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, NYU Langone Health/Bellevue Hospital Center
Introduction
The purpose of this study is to present a case involving the rehabilitation of a large, traumatic maxillofacial wound and to review the literature on the application of NPWT in the maxillofacial and head and neck regions. A literature review will be conducted to evaluate the injuries treated, specific locations of use, etiologies, duration of use, optimal pressure, and, ultimately, the success rate of NPWT in the maxillofacial and head and neck regions.
Methods
The investigators present a case report on negative pressure wound therapy used to treat a head and neck wound at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Philadelphia, PA). A literature review was performed using the databases PubMed, Embase, and Ovid Medline.
Results
A total number of 111 cases were identified through the literature review conducted. The age of the subjects ranged from 9 months to 93 years of age, and the mean subject-age was found to be 51.8 years old with males comprising majority (70.3%). The most common diagnoses utilizing negative pressure wound therapy was infection (34.2%), and the most common etiology that led to the diagnosis was cancer (33.9%). The cervicofacial location was the most likely anatomical location to use negative pressure wound therapy with an overall mean of 138.6 mmHg over a an average duration of 14.6 days. 90.9% of all head and neck wounds treated with negative pressure wound therapy were successful.
Conclusion
Negative pressure wound therapy has been noted as a successful treatment modality for open wounds of the head and neck region. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons should consider using this therapy on wounds of various sizes and etiologies of the head and neck region. This review shows that while NPWT is effective at maintaining a conducive local environment that ensures a high success rate, it is also not without its failures.