Clinical evaluation of a bioactive beta-glucan gel in the treatment of 'hard-to-heal' wounds.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this evaluation is to assess the effects of a wound healing gel in a wounds of different aetiologies.


METHODS
Data was recorded on the wound surface area, tissue type, and patient level of wound pain at baseline (0) and at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8.


RESULTS
Of the total 39 patients enrolled in the study, 26 patients who complied with the protocol criteria completed the minimum four-week study period. During the 12-week evaluation period, seven of the 26 wounds fully healed and an additional eight wounds showed a reduction in size of more than 50 %. Of the remaining 11, five wounds showed moderate healing progression and six wounds did not respond to treatment. Following the 12 week evaluation time point clinicians reported that a further three wounds healed-a 38 % healing rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The results give promise that this advanced gel, containing a macrophage activating substance, can be a tool in re-activating healing in stalled wounds where standard of care is no longer giving the desired healing progression.
Nurse Consultant Tissue Viability, Manor Clinic, Sheffield, UK.
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King
Lead TVN, Humber NHS Foundation Trust, Hull, E Riding of Yorkshire, UK.
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Barrett
Clinical Research Consultant, Manor Clinic, Sheffield, UK.
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Cutting
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005782:Gels; D047071:beta-Glucans
beta-glucan gel; hard-to-heal wounds; inflammation; macrophage; restart healing