Affordable negative pressure wound therapy: Bridging the gap for Complex wound management in low-resource environments

Abstract

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has transformed the management of complex wounds across surgical disciplines. However, widespread adoption in low- and middle-income countries is constrained by the high cost and proprietary nature of commercial systems. This narrative review examines appropriate low-cost NPWT alternatives and discusses strategies to mitigate commonly cited limitations through protocol-driven care. Wider adoption supported by pragmatic evaluation and standardized protocols offers an opportunity to expand equitable access to advanced wound care in resource-constrained settings.