Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in the Head and Neck: A Summary of Uses and Application Techniques

Robert Michael Liebman; Krishna S Hanubal; Peter T Dziegielewski

doi:10.1055/s-0042-1759562

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in the Head and Neck: A Summary of Uses and Application Techniques

Semin Plast Surg. 2022 Dec 13;37(1):9-18. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1759562. eCollection 2023 Feb.

Authors

Robert Michael Liebman¹, Krishna S Hanubal², Peter T Dziegielewski³

Affiliations

¹ Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah, Georgia.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.
³ Division of Head and Neck Oncologic and Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.

Abstract

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has had an expanded role in the management of complex wounds including its increasing use for complex wounds in the head and neck region. Challenges for use in the head and neck region include variations in surface topography and the proximity of sensitive mouth, nose, ear, eye, and tracheal openings. Despite these challenges, NPWT has been used in the head and neck immediately following free flap surgery, to prepare wounds for skin grafting or local flaps, to treat orocutaneous and pharyngocutaneous fistulas, to treat necrotizing and deep neck space infections, to temporize and palliate, and to treat chronic wounds with exposed bone and hardware among others. This review demonstrates the proven track record of successful uses of NPWT in the aforementioned scenarios, provides suggestions to improve efficacy, as well as an algorithm for use in certain clinical situations.

Keywords: fistula; head and neck; necrotizing fasciitis; negative pressure wound therapy.

Publication types

Review