Abstract
Introduction
Removing necrosis and biofilm is an essential step in the treatment of all lesions. A new debriding compound (TDA) uses a hygroscopic mechanism to reach this goal: when in contact with biofilm and necrosis this causes desiccation, with subsequent dissolution of these compounds.
Methods
In a retrospective proof-of-principle study the results of a one-time application of TDA in 54 serious foot and leg lesions, mainly diabetic and venous ulcers, were analyzed.
Results
Outcomes were positive: at study end: 50 out of 54 lesions (92.5%) showed complete granulation and in 40 out of 54 lesions (74.0%) complete reepithelialization was reached.
TDA efficacy is represented by three cases. In the first one, an 83-year-old diabetic female with sever peripheral arterial disease and status post-toes-amputation suffered from a gangrenous lesion of the left foot. A second case involved a 77-year-old female who had a non-healing, post-trauma lesion over the Achilles tendon, and the last case entails an 81-year-old male with a non-healing lesion on the left lower leg. All patients showed very rapid debridement and subsequent healing and reepithelialization
Conclusions
Typically, diabetic, and venous ulcers require repeated debridement and treatment of the biofilm is notoriously difficult. It also takes a long time before the woundbed is healthy enough to start to granulate and, subsequently, epithelialize. The results, obtained in this study, indicate that a one-time application of TDA is highly effective for “jumpstarting” wound healing.