Negative pressure wound therapy, artificial skin and autogenous skin implantation in diabetic foot ulcers

• Published in: Journal of wound care Vol. 31; no. 1; p. 40
• Main Authors: Chia-Jui, Hu, Yu, Lai, Jiang, Yu-Qing, Tan, Wen, Gao, Gong-Ming, Li, Hai-Bo, Han, Long
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 02.01.2022
• Subjects: Aged; Amputation; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic Foot - therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; Skin, Artificial; Wound Healing; skin transplantation; wound; wound care; wound healing; wound dressing; Integra artificial skin; artificial skin; diabetic foot ulcer; autogenous skin implantation; negative-pressure wound therapy; diabetes
• ISSN: 0969-0700
• DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2022.31.1.40

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are one of the most serious diabetic consequences, leading to amputations. Various therapies have been used to treat DFUs; however, a combination of negative pressure suction, artificial skin and autogenous skin implantation have never been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel three-step therapy protocol using negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), artificial skin and autogenous skin implantation in patients with DFUs. At a single tertiary university hospital between 2015 and 2018, the three-step therapy protocol was applied to patients with DFUs and its safety and efficacy was investigated. A total of 21 patients took part in the study. The majority of the patients were female (62%), with a mean age of 65 years and a mean body mass index of 21kg/m . A third (n=7) of operative sites experienced minor complications, with two requiring re-operation. At a median follow up of 24 months, the average time of complete wound healing was 46 days, and the wound healing rate was 71%. The first-stage wound healing rate was 90%. All patients had achieved remission without any further recurrence of disease. This comprehensive surgical technique for managing DFUs achieved a high local cure rate, minimal functional morbidity, and acceptable wound complication rates. The three-step therapy protocol has the potential to promote the healing process of DFUs, which is expected to serve as a new method for the treatment and cure of DFUs.