Between 1 January 1992 and 31 July 1995, 313 patients with acute and chronic infections were treated by vacuum sealing (VS). The average duration of VS treatment was 16.7 days, and there was an average of 3.1 changes in the VS system. In acute infections (n = 203) the wounds were closed by secondary suturing (65.5%), spontaneous epithelialization (17.2%), skin grafting (12.3%) and flap transfer (2%). Six patients died (3%). Infection recurred in 3.9% and was cured by another VS treatment. Unstable scar formations (1%) were treated by free flap transfers. When compared with standard open-wound treatment, the low-cost VS technique offers great advantages with regard to hospital hygiene, patient comfort and therapeutic results.