Results of largest study into diabetic foot ulceration revealed

The UK’s largest study to date in diabetic foot ulceration has shown the potential of oxygen therapy to revolutionise wound care, according to data presented at the recent European Wound Management Association (EWMA) conference.

The study into the oxygen therapy Granulox was conducted by South Tees NHS Hospitals Foundation and treated 20 patients with non-healing diabetic foot ulcers. After just four weeks, all trial patients reported a reduction in wound surface area, elimination of slough and an improvement in exudate levels. A quarter of patients reported a 100% reduction in wound area.

Sharon D. Bateman, study author and specialist tissue viability nurse said: “Diabetic foot ulcers have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life and place patients at higher risk for lower limb amputations.

“The management of DFU patients can place a significant burden on NHS resources. Aside from the clinical benefits seen in the trial, 75% of patients were able to apply Granulox independently, making the prospect of patients managing their DFU independently or with the help of their healthcare team a distinct reality.”

All patients with a previous wound bed slough between 10%-100% were slough-free, with no debridement required during the treatment with Granulox. In addition, significant reduction in exudate levels across all patients: a 29% reduction in wounds with mild exudate (2 out of 7 patients), a 86% reduction in moderate exuding wounds (6 out of 7 patients) and a complete resolution (100%) of all six patients with severe exuding wounds. These results demonstrate the transformative impact of Granulox in patients with previously non-healing wounds.

Manfred Scheske, CEO, infirst Healthcare added: “As an area of huge unmet need, the latest data demonstrating that Granulox promotes rapid and complete wound closure should revolutionise the way clinicians approach the management of foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. This latest trial adds to the evidence base for Granulox as part of a gold standard wound-care regime.”