Effective Treatments for Complex Wounds Identified

Several options are available for treating complex wounds—defined as those that have not healed for 3 months, are infected, have compromised the viability of surrounding tissue, or are otherwise impairing normal healing. The results of recent studies have identified the interventions most likely to prove effective in treating several types of complex wounds.

One study, published in BMC Medicine, analyzed 99 systemic reviews of various wound care treatments. Based on the highest quality reviews, the research team deemed ultrasonography and hydrogel dressings to be the most effective interventions for diabetic leg or foot ulcers. In addition, the researchers found hydrocolloid dressings, electrotherapy, air-fluidized beds, and alternate foam mattresses to be the most effective options for pressure ulcers.

Another study examined 59 separate analyses in order to establish which complex wound treatments were the most cost-effective. The study results revealed a number of cost-effective options for diabetic ulcers, including cadexomer iodine ointment, filgrastim, ertapenem, ampicillin/sulbactam, skin replacement, promogran dressing, and becaplermin gel. The researchers also determined that moisture vapor permeable dressing, hydrocolloid dressings, and other advanced dressings are cost-effective treatments for pressure ulcers.

“There are numerous treatments available, but only a few were consistently effective or cost-effective when we looked at all the high-quality existing literature,” said study author Andrea Tricco, PhD, in a press release. “Clinicians and patients can use our results as a guide toward tailoring effective treatment.”