Treatment of gastrocnemius spasms induced by foot injury using negative pressure wound therapy: A case report

Soft tissue injuries of the foot are common in scenarios such as traffic accidents and construction site incidents, involving damage to the plantar fat pad, blood vessels, nerves, and important tendon tissues. The treatment of these injuries faces significant challenges. A 46-year-old male patient suffered soft tissue injuries to the plantar and calcaneus of his right foot due to trauma, without any fractures. Following injury, the patient developed spasms in the right gastrocnemius muscle for unknown reasons. Nevertheless, after undergoing several sessions of negative pressure wound therapy to treat the soft tissue injury on the foot, the spasms in the gastrocnemius muscle resolved, and the soft tissue damage on the plantar and calcaneus of the right foot was effectively treated. This research presents a case of utilizing negative pressure wound therapy to treat a trauma patient with a foot injury-induced gastrocnemius spasms. By explaining and discussing the changes in spasm symptoms post-treatment, the clinical significance and potential mechanism of negative pressure wound therapy in managing foot soft tissue injuries causing gastrocnemius spasms are investigated.