Reply With Quote“There are numerous advanced treatment methods for chronic, non-healing wounds. These can be segmented into three main categories: pharmaceutical agents, wound dressings, and medical devices.
Pharmaceutical agents include antibiotics; however, a recent systematic review of antimicrobial agents has concluded that systemic or topical antimicrobials are not generally indicated for the management of chronic wound infections. However, there may be some value in the prophylactic use of topical antimicrobials for the initial management of acute cellulitis. There is also a pharmaceutical agent containing platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) called Regranex®, by Johnson & Johnson, which helps wounds granulate, as well as various agents to enzymatically debride wounds, such as Accuzme by Healthpoint, and ointments that contain trypsin, Balsam Peru, and Castor Oil that act as enzyme debriders, epithelial agents and pain reducers, such as Meander® by Healthpoint.”
“There are a wide variety of wound dressings that are used for various types of wounds,” Rybski continues. “Amorphous hydrogels vary in thickness and viscosity and may help facilitate autolytic debridement of necrotic tissue. Care must be taken not to apply hydrogels to periwound skin as they may cause maceration. Hydrogel dressings contain up to 95 percent water and thus cannot absorb much exudates, so they are used in dry wounds such as pressure ulcers, skin tears, surgical wounds, and radiation burns. Hydrocolloid dressings are occlusive and do not allow water, oxygen, or bacteria into the wound. This may help angiogenesis and granulation and even lower the pH of the wound bed to prevent bacterial growth, but they should not be used in the wound in infected. Alginate dressings absorb moderate-to-high amounts of wound drainage and may be used in infected and non-infected draining-type wounds. The alginate forms a gel when it comes in contact with fluid and may absorb up to 20 times its weight in fluid. As such they should not be used in dry wounds. Composite dressings — containing multiple layers — may be used in wounds with minimal to heavy exudates, healthy granulation tissue, and necrotic tissue; however, they should not be used if the patient has frail or dehydrated skin. Transparent films are flexible sheets of polyurethane coated with an adhesive so that the caregiver can easily monitor the wound bed through the film, however they should not be used in areas where there is a high friction level, such as with the buttocks or sacrum. Films also are semi-occlusive and trap moisture, creating a moist wound environment. Silver dressings have become available, since silver interferes with bacterial electron transport system and inhibits the multiplication of the bacteria. However, to achieve this, silver ions have to be able to enter a cell, so the chemical bonding of silver with a sulphonamide antimicrobial — sulphadiazine — has resulted in the development of a safe broad-spectrum agent for topical use. In this formulation, silver is released slowly from the transport medium in concentrations that are selectively toxic to microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. This type of silver product has been used successfully in the management of acute and chronic wounds. Products that can sustain the interaction of silver with microorganisms in the exuding wound are likely to be more effective in preventing/controlling local infection as potentially more silver ions will be available to enter bacterial cells. This assumes that the concentration of silver in the solution is both correct and maintained.”
She adds, “Medical devices used to treat post-surgical chronic wounds include KCI’s Wound VAC® based on negative pressure therapy (NPT) and Regenesis Biomedical’s Provant® Wound Closure System based on cell proliferation induction (CPI). Negative pressure therapy requires the insertion of a special sponge dressing into the wound bed, covering it with a transparent film to create a vacuum seal, and then applying suction pressure to remove exudates and to draw the wound edges closer together.
“The difference between acute vs. chronic wounds is 30 days,” he says. “Most acute wounds, such as contusions, lacerations, and abrasions, heal without any complications, and require only cleansing and protection. If, however, the wound doesn’t heal within 30 days, this would be considered a chronic, non-healing wound. Chronic, non-healing wounds would suggest a serious underlying disease process such as diabetes, poor arterial blood supply to the area of the wound, or an immuno-compromised or malnourished patient. The underlying conditions that contribute to the non-healing wound need to be identified and corrected in order for the healing process to take place.”
In addition to the standard treatment — debridement, evaluating and documenting adequate arterial profusion, and special dressings — there are other options. “Bio-engineered tissue may be required for certain wounds to obtain closure. Off-loading, or removing pressure or friction from the wound, is also very important and must be addressed,” he says.
“Current research emphasizes the importance of not using common substances that we used in the past such as betadine, peroxide, and dakins solution, which are known to inhibit or destroy new cell growth,” he points out.
Orthopedic surgeon Daniel Sparks, MD, has completed a two-year study on Skin Renu Plus, a proprietary formula from Health Renu Medical that decreased the incidence of wound complications, including infection, by 66 percent. Further, he noted that 77 percent of the 203 subjects had decreased scarring and shorter healing time after surgery. Skin Renu Plus is a topical formula that helps promote healing by providing nutrients to the wound and by applying an anti-bacterial layer directly to the wound site.
“Treatment after wound closure is focused on the prevention of complications that are known to disrupt the healing sequence, thus resulting in a ‘chronic’ wound,” observes Sparks.
