Therapeutic potential of a low-cost device for wound healing: a study of three cases of healing after lower-extremity amputation in patients with diabetes.
Diabetic foot ulcers constitute a tremendous challenge for patients, caregivers, and health care systems. The high incidence and high financial costs associated with their treatment have transformed them in a health and economic worldwide problem. The increase in population life expectancy and lifestyle changes have facilitated the spreading of diabetes, rising diabetic foot ulcer incidence. Only 60%-80% of the patients achieve healing of ulcers, and the incidence of a second ulcer, in the same or different site of the foot that has had a previous ulcer, is approximately 50% in 2-5 years. In addition, ulcers with duration longer than 4 weeks are commonly associated with bad results in healing and an increased risk of amputation. Three patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have been subjected to treatment with NL.1.2, a low-cost, biocompatible solid device that presented pro-angiogenic properties. The selected patients had undergone amputation, and their wounds, classified as Wagner II, did not show a significant progress in healing after a period of 2-5 months before treatment with NL.1.2. Complete closure of their wounds was achieved in 42-60 days.
Instituto de Anatomía, Histología y Patología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
Alejandra
A
Vidal
Annesi
A
Giacaman
Felipe A
FA
Oyarzun-Ampuero
Sandra
S
Orellana
Isabel
I
Aburto
María F
MF
Pavicic
Alfonso
A
Sánchez
Claudia
C
López
Carlos
C
Morales
Marianela
M
Caro
Ignacio
I
Moreno-Villoslada
Miguel
M
Concha
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials