Niche Use at Best

The current critical literature review shows that a method that is well rewarded within the system of diagnosis related groups is questionable; consequently so is its expensive financing. Reimbursement is done without any proof of success and thus stimulates demand. According to our decades of experience, wound healing in the long term—rather than granulation stimulated in the short term—almost entirely depends on local vascularization, and improving this should be the primary objective. Subsequently it is hardly relevant which method of wound closure is used or which dressing technique is applied for secondary healing, as long as the correct principles are applied for transplants or moist wound healing. In my opinion, negative pressure wound treatment would be used in no more than a niche function without the considerable financial stimuli.

DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2012.0112c

Prof. Dr. med. Helmut Breuninger

Arzt für Chirurgie und Dermatologie und Phlebologie

Universitäts-Hautklinik Tübingen, Operative Dermatologie

helmut.breuninger@med.uni-tuebingen.de

Conflict of interest statement

The author declares that no conflict of interest exists.