Closed wound suction drainage.

Closed wound suction drainage may have application to certain podiatric surgical procedures. It can be used to reduce postoperative edema and hematoma formation, decrease the possibility of infection, and minimize the chance of external contamination of the surgical site. Certain conditions that may occur after podiatric surgical procedures and that are detrimental to the healing and rehabilitation of the patient but can be obviated by the use of closed suction drainage are illustrated. Drains should be considered in any podiatric surgical procedure that results in the creation of large voids or causes substantial bleeding as occurs in large resections of bone. Included in this would be any plastic surgical procedures or amputations of the foot.