Clinical strategies for preservation of the exposed implant in chronic wounds and wound repair

Objective To explore the clinical strategies for preservation of the exposed implant in chronic wounds and wound repair. Methods From January 2016 to January 2019, totally 8 patients (4 males and 4 females, aged 10 to 73 years) sustaining postoperative chronic wounds with exposed implants were admitted to the Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital. There were 2 cases of abdominal patch exposure after abdominal trauma surgery, 2 cases of titanium plate exposure post craniocerebral surgery, 3 cases of internal fixator exposure post orthopedic surgery, and 1 case of cerebrospinal fluid drainage tube exposure after craniocerebral surgery. The wound exudate was collected for bacterial culture on admission. On the basis of glycemic control and correction of anemia and hypoproteinemia, thorough wound debridement was performed as soon as possible and the wound area after debridement ranged from 2.0 cm×0.5 cm to 6.0 cm×5.0 cm. The wounds of 4 patients were immediately closed after debridement, including 1 case by primary closure, 1 case by primary closure after local filling of platelet rich plasma gel, and 2 cases by local flap transplantation, with flap size of 10.0 cm×8.0 cm and 12.0 cm×8.0 cm, respectively. The donor sites of flaps were sutured directly and all the incisions were treated with continuous vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) after surgery. The other 4 patients were treated with continuous VSD after debridement to improve the wound bed. The wound of 1 case healed gradually, 1 case received direct wound suturing, and the wounds of 2 cases were repaired with thin split-thickness skin grafts from the thigh or the head. The results of bacterial culture of wound exudate on admission, wound healing post surgery, and follow-up were observed and recorded. Results The bacterial culture of wound exudate on admission was positive in 6 patients, and 10 strains of bacteria were isolated with Staphylococcus epidermidis as the main pathogen. All the skin grafts or flaps of patients survived post surgery, with the incisions and wounds healed and all the implants preserved. After 1 to 3 years of follow-up, no recurrence of wound was found in any patient. Conclusions The postoperative chronic wounds with exposed implants can be closed in primary stage by direct suturing or flap transplantation if it is clean enough on the basis of thorough debridement. The wounds with large defects or serious infection can be treated with continuous VSD firstly and then closed with direct suturing or skin grafting for delayed wound closure, thereby to reach the treatment goal of preserving the implants and repairing the wounds simultaneously.