The SNaP Wound Care System for Head and Neck Wound Closure

Abstract

Objective: Vacuum-assisted closure of head and neck wounds has been previously described. Negative pressure wound therapy, although efficacious, has practical limitations in the outpatient setting. The purpose of this study is to describe a novel method of treating complex head and neck wounds using an ultraportable mechanical vacuum wound care system.

Method: A cohort study at 2 tertiary care centers. All head and neck patients with complex, low to moderately exudative wounds were treated by the senior author using the SNaP Wound Care System. Patient comorbidities, wound etiology, site, length of treatment, outcomes, and ancillary procedures were recorded.

Results: A variety of wounds was treated with this system and included mucocutaneous fistulas, a tracheocutaneous fistula, soft tissue defects of the head and neck, and tendon exposure of a radial forearm free flap donor site. Outpatient SNaP therapy was utilized in five patients with 6 small- to medium-sized wounds. This system was successful in obtaining wound closure in all patients. These patients were able to complete routine activities of daily living, participate in public social settings, and tolerate therapy without adverse events. One patient required an adjunctive procedure of split thickness skin grafting.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates a novel use of the first FDA-approved ultraportable, mechanical negative pressure device in the treatment of several complex head and neck wounds. The device has utility in the outpatient setting for adjunctive closure of wounds with minimal disturbance to patients’ activities of daily living and lifestyle.