Effect of Negative Pressure Therapy versus Polarized Light Therapy on Chronic Wound Healing

Background: Chronic wounds are wounds that have failed to proceed through the normal process of healing. There are varying etiologies of chronic wounds, which all create a burden upon the health care system. Aim of Study: The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in the effect between negative pressure therapy and polarized light therapy on chronic wound healing. Patients and Methods: Thirty patients were diagnosed by a physician as chronic wound patients (grade 2 and 3). Their age ranged from 45 to 65 years. Patientswere selected from Cairo University Hospitals. They were distributed randomly into two groups (A, B) equal in numbers. Group A received negative pressure therapy daily with dressings changes 3 times a week with the traditional medical treatment for 6 weeks. Group B received polarized light therapy for 10min 3 times aweek with the traditional medical treatment for 6 weeks. Wound surface area and wound volume were assessed by tracing method and saline respectively pretreatment, 3 weeks and 6 weeks after treatment.The study was carried out from July 2020 to October 2020. Results: There were no significant difference in wound surface area and wound volume between groups pre-treatment (p>0.05). Comparison between both groups post-treatment revealed a non-significant difference in wound surface area and wound volume at post I (p>0.05); however, there were a significant decrease in wound surface area (p=0.02) and wound volume (p=0.01) of group A compared with that of group B at post II. Conclusion: These results suggested that negative pressure therapy was more effective than polarized light therapy in reducing surface area and wound volume of chronic wound.