PubMed2006
INTRODUCTION: Vacuum therapy of hand defect problematic due to the interdigital folds and in particular due to the small surface. As a temporary cover in staged procedures, e. g. following excision of tumor-suspicious skin alterations at the hand, and/or at the fingers, the application of vacuum therapy results not only in a sterile, temporary cover of the wound, furthermore it promotes wound conditioning and reduction of the wound area as well as lymph and edema reduction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 75 year old female patient presented herself with a skin alteration at the right dorsal ring finger and the tentative diagnosis of a Morbus Bowen like lesion was raised. Due to the unclear histological status, a staged procedure with excision of the tumour and temporary defect coverage by means of vacuum therapy until final histological evaluation was indicated. We accomplished the radical excision of the unclear skin tumour at the proximal phalanx under preservation of the synovial sheath of the tendon. Subsequently, the wound was temporarily closed with vacuum therapy. Histological examination revealed the complete removal of a solar keratosis. Finally, after 7 days of vacuum therapy as a sterile dressing, with obvious reduction of wound area and simultaneous decrease of edema, the defect was finally covered with a reversed cross finger flap from the adjacent middle finger. The donor site was covered with a full thickness skin graft harvested from the right forearm. The further course was without complication after flap dissection and complete healing. DISCUSSION: Vacuum therapy represents a usefull procedure for temporary wound coverage. Especially at hand defects, when nerves, tendons or bones following trauma or staged procedures are exposed, vacuum therapy can be successfully applied utilizing the special surgical "hand glove" technique.