Secondary closure of open sternal wound using mechanical creep and negative pressure wound therapy in an outpatient setting – a case report

Abstract

This case report demonstrates the secondary closure of an open sternal wound using mechanical creep and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in an outpatient setting, focusing on the decrease of wound healing time and cost of treatment. An understanding of the relationship between the prevention and treatment of surgical site infections (SSIs) is discussed. Furthermore, the importance of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach involving a cardiothoracic surgeon, wound care nurse, and dietitian to achieving wound healing using mechanical creep, NPWT and good wound management is demonstrated. In this patient, the mechanical creep technique using TopClosure^® and NPWT proved to be effective and led to a 60% decrease in wound size by week 4, and complete wound closure by week 9.