Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa.
J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2010 Jan;63(1):174-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2008.08.037. Epub 2008 Nov 25.
Negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has revolutionised wound care. Yet, it is still not understood how hypobaric tissue pressure accelerates wound healing. There is very little reported on the relevant physics of any substance subjected to suction in this manner. The common assumption is that applying suction to a substance is likely to result in a reduction of pressure in that substance. Although more than 250 research articles have been published on NPWT, there are little data verifying whether suction increases or decreases the pressure of the substance it is applied to. Clarifying this basic question of physics is the first step in understanding the mechanism of action of these dressings. In this study, pressure changes were recorded in soft plasticene and processed meat, using an intracranial tissue pressure microsensor. Circumferential, non-circumferential and cavity NPWT dressings were applied, and pressure changes within the underlying substance were recorded at different suction pressures. Pressures were also measured at 1cm, 2 cm and 3 cm from the NPWT placed in a cavity. In all three types of NPWT dressings, the underlying substance pressure was increased (hyperbaric) as suction pressure increased. Although there was a substantial pressure increase at 1cm, the rise in pressure at the 2-cm and 3-cm intervals was minimal. Substance pressure beneath all types of NPWT dressing is hyperbaric in inanimate substances. Higher suction pressures generate greater substance pressures; however, the increased pressure rapidly dissipates as the distance from the dressing is increased. The findings of this study on inanimate objects suggest that we may need to review our current perception of the physics underlying NPWT dressings. Further research of this type on living tissues is warranted.
负压伤口治疗（NPWT）已经彻底改变了伤口护理。然而，目前仍不清楚低压组织压力如何加速伤口愈合。关于以这种方式进行抽吸的任何物质的相关物理学，几乎没有报道。人们普遍认为，对物质施加吸力可能会导致该物质的压力降低。尽管已经发表了超过 250 篇关于 NPWT 的研究文章，但很少有数据验证吸力是否会增加或减少其施加的物质的压力。澄清这一基本物理学问题是理解这些敷料作用机制的第一步。在这项研究中，使用颅内组织压力微传感器记录了软塑料和加工肉中的压力变化。施加了环形、非环形和腔 NPWT 敷料，并记录了不同抽吸压力下基础物质内的压力变化。还在腔中放置 NPWT 的位置处测量了 1cm、2cm 和 3cm 处的压力。在所有三种类型的 NPWT 敷料中，基础物质的压力随着抽吸压力的增加而增加（高压）。尽管在 1cm 处有很大的压力增加，但在 2cm 和 3cm 处的压力上升最小。在所有类型的 NPWT 敷料下，基础物质的压力在无生命物质中是高压的。更高的抽吸压力会产生更高的物质压力；然而，随着与敷料的距离增加，压力的增加会迅速消散。这项对无生命物体的研究结果表明，我们可能需要重新审视我们对 NPWT 敷料基础物理学的当前认识。有必要对这种类型的活体组织进行进一步研究。
