A non-adhesive foam dressing for exuding venous leg ulcers and pressure ulcers: six case studies

Six patients had their wounds dressed with 3M Foam Dressing, a highly absorbent polyurethane foam covered with a breathable layer, for up to four weeks. The dressing was assessed for its effect on the wound and patient comfort, with promising results.     

Exploring the use of an alginate dressing for diabetic foot ulcers

Few studies have investigated the use of dressings on patients with diabetic foot ulceration. This paper reports the results of a non-comparative, two-centre study investigating the performance characteristics of SeaSorb dressing in patients with this condition. This was an exploratory study to determine the potential use of this dressing, and not a large randomised control trial. All patients had diabetic foot ulceration of 1 cm or more in diameter, classified as Wagner grade I or II, with an ankle brachial pressure index of > 0.4. The investigators carried out objective assessments including photography and ulcer tracing as well as subjective assessments of exudate levels, wound bed condition, peri-ulcer skin condition, ease of application and removal of the dressing, dressing conformability, discomfort during dressing application and removal, and clinical signs of infection. Investigators recruited 41 patients in two sites (31 in site one and 10 in site two). Of these, the findings relating to 39 patients could be evaluated. The patients were treated for a maximum of six weeks or until the ulcer healed. The study found that 28.2% (11/39) of the ulcers healed within the six-week period. Overall, there was a significant reduction in mean ulcer area from 2.8 cm 2 to 1.02 cm 2 from week 0 to week six. The relative ulcer area showed a significant decrease from 100% to 33%. For patients who experienced ulcer pain (11 patients), its intensity decreased over the six weeks. Severe maceration was not reported for any patient throughout the study. Six patients required treatment for infection. A total of 12 adverse events were reported: seven mild to moderate and five severe. None were directly attributed to the study dressing.     

Antibiotic treatment of infected diabetic foot ulcers

Antimicrobial treatment can be effective in diabetic foot ulcers. However, choosing the appropriate regimen depends on the clinical and microbial presentation. This review describes the factors practitioners need to consider.     

Prospective clinical study of a new adhesive gelling foam dressing in pressure ulcers

This prospective, non comparative study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of an adhesive gelling foam dressing in pressure ulcer management. Twenty-three subjects with exuding pressure ulcers were recruited from seven centres in the USA and Canada. Study treatment included an adhesive gelling foam dressing, optional tape/roll bandaging and mandatory pressure-reducing/relieving devices. Subjects were followed until ulcer healing, for up to 28 days, or on patient withdrawal from the study, whichever came first. Dressings were changed at least once every 7 days. Mean percentage change in ulcer area from baseline to final measurement was -13%. Investigators reported healing or subjective improvement of ulcer condition in 61% of patients. Mean dressing wear time was 4.2 days. Subjects found the dressing was comfortable, soothing and cushioning in situ at 80%, 64% and 70% of dressing changes, respectively. Subjects reported pain severity of none or mild for every dressing change. Fourteen subjects experienced adverse events, including seven subjects with study-related maceration, erythema, wound enlargement, blister or infection. A regimen including an adhesive gelling foam dressing proved to be safe and effective for managing exudate, protecting the surrounding skin, minimising pain and supporting healing of pressure ulcers with exudate.     

糖尿病足部溃疡外科保肢治疗进展

糖尿病足部溃疡是糖尿病的一个严重并发症,占非创伤性截肢的第1位。糖尿病足发病涉及足踝外科、血管外科、内分泌科.、感染控制,治疗方案需多学科联合诊治。清创术是治疗糖尿病足部溃疡的基础,清创过程中须注意维持足部正常解剖结构;负压封闭引流技术以及抗生素骨水泥在外科感染控制、溃烂创面愈合方面优势明显,疗效满意;肌腱延长术可缓解足底部应力集中导致的溃疡发生、进展等,其适应证广泛,优势在于既可预防足部溃疡形成也可治疗溃疡;皮瓣移植虽可以解决创口愈合问题,但是需要考虑移植皮瓣能否承担与足底组织相同的功能;胫骨骨搬运是一项较新的技术,具体机制还不清楚,但从临床疗效看具有一定的应用前景。     

A parallel open-label trial to evaluate microbial cellulose wound dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

The purpose of this study was to compare the rate of wound healing in diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) using either a microbial cellulose (MC) wound dressing or Xeroform? Petrolatum gauze. In a parallel, open‐label trial in which the primary outcome was the rate of wound healing and the time to wound closure, 15 ulcers in type II diabetic patients received an MC dressing. Wounds in 19 control patients with type II diabetes were treated with a Xeroform gauze dressing. All wounds were non infected, Wagner stage II or III and received standard care including debridement, non weight bearing limb support and weekly wound evaluation. The mean time to heal in the MC (±SE) treated group was 32 days ± 2·5 and for controls it was 48 days ± 4·7 (P < 0·01). The rate of weekly wound closure (mean ± SE) was 1·7 times faster in the MC‐treated group (cellulose treated, ?5·04% per week ± 0·38 versus control, ?2·93% per week ± 0·19), (P < 0·001). Among covariants tested by univariate regression, only the original wound area correlated with the time to wound closure (P < 0·001). In conclusion, with the provision of current standards of care, the application of an MC dressing to a diabetic ulcer may enhance the rate of wound healing and shorten the time course of epithelisation.     

Growth factors in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

BACKGROUND: Chronic foot ulceration is a major source of morbidity in diabetic patients. Despite traditional comprehensive wound management, including vascular reconstruction, there remains a cohort of patients with non-responding wounds, often resulting in amputation. These wounds may benefit from molecular manipulation of growth factors to enhance the microcirculation. METHODS: A review of the current literature was performed using Pubmed, with secondary references obtained from key articles. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There has been a generally disappointing clinical outcome from growth factor trials, although topical platelet-derived growth factor has shown significant benefit and should be considered in non-healing, well perfused ulcers after failure of conventional wound care. The modulatory role of the extracellular matrix in the cellular response to growth factors and data from regenerative-type fetal wound healing are further areas of interest. The chemical induction of microvessel formation may become a future therapeutic option.     

Effect of honey dressing in the management of diabetic foot ulcers: A meta-analysis

A meta-analysis study to assess the effect of honey dressing (HD) in the management of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). A comprehensive literature examination till January 2023 was implemented and 1794 linked studies were appraised. The picked studies contained 882 subjects with DFUs were in the picked studies' baseline, 424 of them were using HD, and 458 were using a control. Odds ratio (OR) in addition to 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to calculate the consequence of HD in the management of DFUs after DFU by the dichotomous and continuous styles and a fixed or random model. The HD applied to DFUs caused a significantly higher wound healing rate (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.45-2.93, P < .001) and lower wound healing time (MD, −10.42; 95% CI, −16.27- −4.58, P < .001) compared with the control. The HD applied to DFUs caused a significantly higher wound healing rate and lower wound healing time compared with the control. Although precautions should be taken when commerce with the consequences since most of the picked studies for this meta-analysis was with low sample sizes.     

胫骨横向搬移治疗糖尿病足溃疡

目的:探讨采用Ilizarov技术行胫骨横向搬移术治疗糖尿病足溃疡的临床疗效。方法 :自2013年7月至2017年3月,采用Ilizarov胫骨横向搬移术治疗20例糖尿病足溃疡患者,男14例,女6例;年龄46～61(51.6±6.8)岁。Wagner分级:3级5例,4级15例。手术前后观察并记录截肢平面、溃疡愈合情况、创面愈合时间、VAS疼痛评分、患足皮温,CTA观察血管再通及血管网重建情况。结果:20例患者均进行了随访,时间12～58个月,平均22.4个月,所有患者足部溃疡顺利愈合,时间6～18(13.2±3.7)周,坏死及截肢平面没有上移,患足疼痛明显缓解,VAS评分由术前的5.6±0.8降低至术后1年的0.9±0.4,差异有统计学意义(t=-26.55,P0.05);患足皮温由治疗前的(27.9±1.1)℃提高至术后1年的(30.9±1.1)℃(t=-5.98,P0.05)。CTA可见术前闭塞的血管再通,微血管数量明显增加,足部血管网重建。结论:Ilizarov胫骨横向搬移术能促进足部血管的再生、微血管网的再通或重建,从而改善糖尿病足患者的血液循环,促进溃疡的愈合,适合以微血管病变为主的糖尿病足患者。对于主干大动脉严重狭窄或闭塞的患者应当慎重或配合介入等血管再通技术联合应用。     

Topical negative pressure using a drainage pouch without foam dressing for the treatment of undermined pressure ulcers

Topical negative pressure is gaining popularity as an acute and chronic wound management technique. In general, foam dressing is applied to the wound surface to maintain negative pressure. Due to the potential for clogging by the foam dressing, topical negative pressure cannot be used when there is a high volume of necrotic tissue or massive infection present. In this study, topical negative pressure was applied using a drainage pouch without any dressing. Topical negative pressure was applied to 8 patients with 9 pressure ulcers complicated by undermining. This approach was effective in the treatment of all 9 ulcers and allowed the wounds to be visualized while maintaining negative pressure. Since this technique can be performed without foam dressing, it can be used to treat early-stage infectious pressure ulcers in which there is a lot of necrotic tissue. CONCLUSION: Topical negative pressure without dressing is an extremely effective treatment of pressure ulcers complicated by undermining.     

Tetanus prophylaxis for diabetic foot ulcers

The infected or ulcerated diabetic foot is a suitable environment for Clostridium tetani. Tetanus intoxication as a result of foot ulcer has been described in the literature. Immunopathy, vasculopathy, and ulceration place the diabetic patient at risk for developing tetanus. Of diabetic patients who contract generalized tetanus in the United States, foot ulcer or gangrene are responsible for 25% of cases. Patients who have diabetic wounds should receive tetanus prophylaxis. The prophylaxis should follow the "tetanus-prone" wound recommendations as set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.