Negative Suction Dressing vs. Normal Dressing in the Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers – A Randomized Control Trial

Ankit Rathod, Hemang Panchal and Sarvagya Jha

Department of Surgery, GMERS Medical College & Hospital, Sola, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

^*Correspondance to: Sarvagya Jha 

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Abstract:

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a major complication of diabetes mellitus, often leading to prolonged hospital stays, infections, and limb amputations. Conventional wound management strategies, such as normal saline and betadine H₂O₂ dressing, have been widely used but may not adequately accelerate healing. Negative suction dressing (NPWT) has emerged as an alternative method aimed at improving granulation tissue formation and reducing hospital stay duration. However, comparative studies assessing NPWT’s efficacy versus conventional dressing remain limited. This study evaluates the effectiveness of NPWT versus normal saline and betadine dressing in diabetic foot ulcer management at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, a tertiary healthcare center, from May 2022 to May 2024. A total of 80 patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers were randomized into two groups: • Group 1: Negative suction dressing (NPWT). • Group 2: Normal saline and betadine H₂O₂ dressing. Both groups received standardized diabetes management, including blood glucose control using insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents, along with systemic antibiotics. Wounds were assessed for granulation tissue formation, graft take-up percentage, duration of hospital stay, ulcer size reduction, and postoperative complications. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and t-tests, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: Patients treated with NPWT demonstrated significantly shorter hospital stays (29.91 days) compared to 53.46 days in the conventional dressing group (p=0.0001). Granulation tissue formation was superior in NPWT-treated wounds, with a mean ulcer area reduction of 83.56 ± 16.88% vs. 53.88 ± 21.52% for conventional dressing (p=0.0001). The success rate was 100% in NPWT compared to 83.7% in normal saline and betadine dressing (p=0.006). Additionally, NPWT resulted in improved graft take-up rates, with 82.17 ± 14.44% graft survival vs. 61.48 ± 17.25% in the conventional dressing group (p=0.0001). Conclusions: Negative suction dressing significantly enhances diabetic foot ulcer healing by reducing hospital stay duration, improving granulation tissue formation, increasing graft takeup rates, and minimizing treatment failures compared to conventional dressing methods. These findings underscore the superior efficacy of NPWT in DFU management, suggesting that it should be integrated into standard treatment protocols for improved patient outcomes. Further large-scale studies are recommended to validate long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness.

Keywords:

Diabetic foot ulcer; Negative suction dressing; Wound healing; Granulation tissue; Randomized controlled trial

Cite the Article:

Rathod A, Panchal H, Jha S. Negative Suction Dressing vs. Normal Dressing in the Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers – A Randomized Control Trial. World J Surg Surgical Res. 2025; 8: 1602..