Modification to the PICO Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System Application to Improve Patient Experience in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

PICO single use negative pressure wound therapy (sNPWT) is increasinsingly being used in high-risk wounds across many surgical specialities. Their use in orthopaedic arthroplasty surgery is associated with practical challenges limiting mobilisation including tube disconnection and pullouts. We present a description of a novel modification to the PICO sNPWT application using a Granuflex dressing to secure the pump to the patient. Our early patient experience showed 100% (24/24) patients reporting no issues with wound healing and 91.7% (22/24) reporting the dressing and pump staying on for the prescribed amount of time without detachment. This modification allows the dressing to be more conducive to early mobilisation without hindering use of walking aids and crutches. There is a role for the modification to be adopted by other surgical specialties.