Use of negative pressure wound therapy in a chronic leg wound with coexisting rheumatoid arthritis: a case study

J Int Med Res. 2018 Jun;46(6):2495-2499. doi: 10.1177/0300060518771826. Epub 2018 May 13.

Abstract

We present a case of a 69-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis. The patient's condition was managed with steroid therapy for more than 12 years. She had a coexisting infected chronic ulceration in the left leg, which was treated with negative pressure wound therapy for 52 days. Use of this therapy within the wound reduced exudate and the bacterial count, which dramatically accelerated the process of wound healing.

Keywords: Negative pressure wound therapy; bacterial count; chronic leg wound; infection; rheumatoid arthritis; steroid.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leg Ulcer / complications
  • Leg Ulcer / microbiology
  • Leg Ulcer / physiopathology
  • Leg Ulcer / therapy*
  • Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy*
  • Wound Healing / physiology