[Cost-effectiveness analysis of vacuum-assisted closure in the surgical wound bed preparation of soft tissue injuries].

This work proposes, from the point of view of the University Hospital Center of Nantes (acute care), a cost-effectiveness assessment of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), in comparison with moist wound therapy, in the surgical preparation of cutaneous defects requiring reconstructive surgery. This retrospective study was realized after data collection from patient files with hospitalization for the management of open-leg fractures with a view to reconstructive surgery by graft or flap (Cauchoix II or III). Effectiveness criteria, after debridement and NWPT initiation, was the time period required for preparing the wound for definitive reconstructive surgery closure by flap or graft. NWPT is compared, over the same 2000 to 2006 period, to the only existing therapeutic alternative, that is to say moist wound therapy. Only direct costs in relation with consumed resources dedicated to each medical strategy were taken into account. A Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test and boostrap technique have been used for statistical and sensitivity analysis. Twenty-five patients were recruited for the two medical strategies. Wound preparation time is significantly shorter for patient treated with NPWT (p=0.026 Mann-Whitney U-test) and is equal to 20 days less on average for time period required for preparing the wound for reconstructive surgery. Hospitalization costs is very significantly lower for patients being treated with NPWT (p=0.02). In absolute value, this cost is reduced on the average by 6000 euro per patient (i.e. by more than 60%). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is of the order of 164 euro per day of wound preparation for surgery gained. 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.