Diabetic foot ulcers affect millions of people in all the world and impose tremendous
medical, psychosocial and financial loss. They also represent a major use of health resources,
incurring costs not only for dressings, but also staff costs (for podiatrists, nurses, doctors), tests
and investigations, antibiotics and specialist foot wear. Therefore, nurses need up to date
knowledge concerning managing wounds with using appropriate strategies to control infection,
promote wound healing and prevent recurrence to ensure successful out comes for those
patients. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is generally well tolerated and appears to
stimulate a granulation tissue response compared with other wound healing modalities. This
device may be a cost-effective adjunctive wound healing therapy. Objective: Determine the effect
of vacuum assisted closure dressing technique versus conventional dressing on diabetic foot
wound healing: the present study follows aquasi-experimental research design. Setting: The
study was conducted at Diabetic Foot Care Unit of Alex University and Royal Vascular Center.
Subjects: The study was conducted on a convenient sample of 40 patients, who were divided into
two sequential groups. One group received VAC dressing while the other group received
conventional saline moistened gauze dressing. Tools: Tool I: Diabetic Foot Wound Assessment
Structural Interview Schedule and Tool II: Wound Healing Assessment Observational Checklist.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the rate of appearance of granulation
tissue between the two groups; with granulation tissue appearing earlier in the study group. The
study group promised a better outcome as compared to the control group. Conclusion: Using of
VAC therapy yield improved wound healing in comparison to their control in patient with
diabetes mellitus more over the majority of studied patients who had faster and more effective
wound healing. Recommendations: Study of the effect of VAC therapy on infected diabetic
wound healing VAC therapy should be used in all grades of diabetic foot wound.