Role of jet force technology in wound management

Aim:The aim was to study the role of jet force technology(JFT)in wound management.Methods:This is a retrospective analysis of 18 cases of chronic nonhealing wounds in which JFT was used.Chronic wounds which had already undergone surgical debridement but which were not ready for reconstruction(skin graft/flap)secondary to a persistent bacterial load or infection(tissue culture positive)were included in the study.Patients were divided into two groups.Group 1 included those patients who were poor candidates for anesthesia or who refused for reconstruction and were managed with JFT only.Group 2 included those patients who were cleared for anesthesia and who were and who were managed with JFT and skin graft or flap coverage.The time to negative wound cultures after JFT and the total duration of healing were noted.Results:In both the groups,all tissue culture positive chronic wounds became negative after 2±1 weeks and were ready for reconstruction.In Group 1(6 patients),the wounds completely healed in 5-6 weeks with JFT only.In Group 2(12 patients),the wounds completely healed in 3-4 weeks with JFT and skin graft/flap.Conclusion:Hydrotherapy with JFT helps in the removal of contaminants,debris,and microbial colonization of the wound leading to spontaneous wound healing and facilitating wound bed preparation for wound coverage by a skin graft or flap.