Hyaluronic Acid for Treatment of Diabetic Foot wounds

Outcomes of hyaluronan therapy in diabetic foot wounds

Article specifications

This Study was published in 2003 in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice Journal (IF 2008: ‎2.54) by American specialists. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of persons with neuropathic diabetic foot wounds treated with a hyaluronan-containing dressing. Data were abstracted for 36 patients with diabetes, 72.2% male, aged 60.09/10.7 years and a mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 9.59/2.5% presenting for care at two large, multidisciplinary wound care centers. All patients received surgical debridement for their diabetic foot wounds and were placed on therapy consisting of hyaluronan dressing (Hyalofill†, Convatec, USA) with dressing changes taking place every other day. Outcomes evaluated included time to complete wound closure and proportion of patients achieving wound closure in 20 weeks. Hyalofill† therapy was used until the wound bed achieved 100% granulation tissue. Therapy was then followed by a moisture-retentive dressing until complete epithelialization.

 

Results

We conclude that a regimen consisting of moist wound healing using hyaluronan containing dressings may be a useful adjunct to appropriate diabetic foot ulcer care. This therapy may possibly aid in the reduction of lower extremity amputations in the diabetic population.