Adherent Polyurethane Foam Following VAC Dressing: A Rare Complication

Introduction: Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) dressings are used for many indications nowadays in wound management. However, there are complications with VAC dressings also. In this study, we report a 44-year-old patient with a vertical shear injury with post-operative wound complication of adherent polyurethane sponge over her wound which was removed by piecemeal dissection.

Case report: A 44-year-old patient sustained a vertical shear pelvic injury following which spinopelvic fusion surgery was performed. The patient developed wound dehiscence along with discharge on POD 4. Following this, VAC dressing was applied to the wound. After 3 days, the polyurethane sponge became adherent to the wound. The sponge was removed gradually through daily debridement in a piecemeal manner. The wound was found to be healthy and a keystone flap was raised to cover the wound.

Conclusion: Although such complication of an adherent sponge has not been reported to date, one must keep in mind this complication while making improvisations to commercially available VAC dressings.