Functional and Clinical Outcomes in Acute Wound Management: Measuring the Impact of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy and Specialized Physical Therapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Optimizing functional recovery alongside wound healing remains a challenge in acute wound management. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is widely used to promote tissue regeneration and reduce edema, yet its impact on functional outcomes and quality of life is less explored. This study evaluates the effects of NPWT alone versus NPWT combined with physiotherapy, focusing on functional recovery and patient-reported outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study included patients with acute wounds at the Timisoara County Emergency Clinical Hospital, treated between 2020 and 2024. Participants were divided into two groups: Group 1, receiving NPWT exclusively, and Group 2, undergoing NPWT combined with physiotherapy (Proprioceptive Neuro-muscular Facilitation, Kabat diagonals, manual lymphatic drainage, and proprioceptive exercises). Assessments included joint mobility (goniometry), edema (circumferential measurements), muscle strength (Manual Muscle Testing), and patient-reported outcomes using WHOQOL-BREF, SF-36, and HADS questionnaires.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated that, at 10 days, patients in the specialized physiotherapy group had significantly greater ankle dorsiflexion (18.10 ± 1.63°) compared to the classical group (10.05 ± 1.76°; < 0.001). Knee flexion in the specialized group was 134.58 ± 5.15° versus 115.57 ± 5.32° in the classical group ( < 0.001). Edema circumference and depth were reduced in both groups, with minor but notable improvements in the specialized group at later follow-ups ( < 0.05). Self-reported quality of life (SF-36, WHOQOL-BREF) and mental health (HADS) scores were slightly better at 10 days in the specialized group, although differences diminished by 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining NPWT with specialized physiotherapy techniques enhances functional recovery and quality of life in acute wound patients. These findings support the integration of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation to optimize patient outcomes.