New research yielded positive results for Smith & Nephew's PICO Single use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy.
The randomized controlled trial included 220 patients undergoing primary hip or knee replacement over a 12-month period at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Shropshire, United Kingdom.
Postoperative complications and prolonged wound exudate can halt discharge, which increases hospital costs.
Here are five observations:
1. The study found those patients receiving the PICO therapy experienced reduction in "wound exudate distribution within the dressing; the number of dressing changes; and extreme length of stay in hospital," according to the press release.
2. Due to PICO, the researchers found a four-fold decrease in the number of patients experiencing Grade 4 distribution of wound exudate within the dressing, compared to those patients receiving standard wound dressing.
3. PICO patients experienced lengths of stay between one day and 10 days, compared to non-PICO patients experiencing lengths of stay between two days and 61 days.
4. Additionally, researchers found superficial surgical site complications decreased from 8 percent to 2 percent with the use of PICO therapy.
5. Researchers concluded PICO's cost is justifiable, "taking into account reduced LOS for the study group, lower wound complications, lower dressing changes and potential cost savings for wound care in the community due to reduced wound complications in the study group."