Successful treatment of a non-healing lumbar incision post-radiotherapy using vacuum sealing drainage: A case report.

[BACKGROUND] The current method of cleaning and changing dressings for non-healing lumbar incisions post-radiotherapy is time-consuming and laborious, with very poor results. We here report a patient with radiation dermatitis who developed a non-healing wound after lumbar spinal surgery. The wound was successfully treated with vacuum sealing drainage therapy, confirming its feasibility in complex wound healing.

[CASE SUMMARY] The patient was a 76-year-old female with lung cancer, positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed bone metastasis in L2 and L3 vertebrae. After 2 months of local radiotherapy to the lumbar spine, symptoms did not improve and pain worsened. She had lumbar lesion clearance and internal fixation surgery, but developed a nonhealing wound of approximately 15 cm postoperatively. After 12 rounds of clearing necrotic and unhealthy tissue, 78 days of negative pressure therapy promoted granulation tissue growth and wound healing, resulting in wound healing.

[CONCLUSION] Vacuum sealing drainage therapy has shown efficacy in treating nonhealing wounds after radiotherapy, promoting wound healing and reducing infection risk.