Use of Vacuum-Assisted Closure to Reduce the Likelihood of Wound Complications after Limb-Sparing Resection of Pediatric Primary Bone Sarcomas of the Femur

Background Limb-sparing surgery is the standard of care for primary bone tumors. However, such procedures are associated with high rates of wound complications, specifically in lower-extremity surgeries. Therefore, identifying and implementing interventions to minimize the likelihood of wound complications after limb-sparing resection of the lower extremity is crucial. Methods Patients who underwent limb-sparing osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma resection during a 7-year period at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Data were collected on 39 patients who underwent limb-sparing resection of the femur. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and perioperative and postoperative data were extracted and analyzed. Patients who underwent resection before April 2017 received conventional postoperative incision dressings. Starting in April 2017, patients received vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) with the 3M™ Prevena VAC system after surgical closure. Eighteen patients received conventional postoperative incision dressing, and 21 received incisional wound VAC. A wound complication was defined as any Clavien-Dindo classification greater than 0 within a 28-day postoperative period. Results Patients who received postoperative incisional wound VAC had lower rates of wound complications than those who received conventional incision dressings (14% vs. 50%; p = 0.035). Additionally, patients in whom wound complications developed had a longer average hospital stay than those without wound complications (5 days vs. 4 days; p = 0.029). Conclusions Wound complications prolong the hospital stay and can delay adjuvant chemotherapy for bone tumors. The use of postoperative incisional wound VAC is associated with less likelihood of wound complications and should be considered in any high-risk surgical closure.