NPWT Management — SCE Dermatology MCQ

Correct answer: A — Transition from NPWT to standard dressings (moist wound healing) or consider skin grafting if the wound is too large for secondary intention healing

The correct answer is A, transition from NPWT to standard dressings (moist wound healing) or consider skin grafting if the wound is too large for secondary intention healing. NPWT is a temporary adjunct that reduces exudate and oedema and stimulates angiogenesis and granulation; once the bed is fully covered with healthy, well vascularised granulation tissue, its therapeutic goal is met and continued negative pressure adds no further benefit. Standard moist wound healing dressings (foam, hydrofibre, or non-adherent, matched to exudate) then allow epithelialisation by secondary intention. If the defect is too large to close this way, the vascularised granulation bed is an ideal recipient site for split-thickness or full-thickness skin grafting. This staged pathway, debride, NPWT to granulate, then close or graft, is standard in UK wound care practice.

Reference: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/conditions-and-diseases/skin-conditions