An extracellular matrix created from the urinary bladders of pigs, combined with offloading, has shown “significant” promise in treating diabetic foot ulcers, according to a recent study.
A research team led by Oscar M. Alvarez, Ph.D., program director of the vascular and wound care center at University Hospital in Rutgers, NJ, split a group of 17 patients into two groups to test the efficacy of the porcine bladder matrix.
One group received treatment with the matrix, or UBM, plus offloading with a total contact cast or standard care. The second group served as the control.
After 12 weeks, the group treated with the UBM showed a 90% incidence of wound healing, compared to 33% in the control group. At 16 weeks, the UBM group had 100% healing, while the control group had an 83.3% incidence of healing.
At one year, the patients treated with the UBM had a 10% rate of wound recurrence, compared to the control group, with a 50% recurrence rate.
“Wounds managed with UBM healed more rapidly and with fewer risks of recurrence,” Alvarez wrote.
Results were published in late February in Wounds.
From the April 01, 2017 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
