Evaluation of the Cost Effectiveness of Transforming Powder Dressing to Standard of Care Wound Dressings in the Treatment of Venous Stasis Ulcers

Introduction: Venous stasis leg ulcers (VLU) affect 1-2% of the general population and approximately 4 percent of patients more than 65 years old.1 After healing, VLUs have a recurrence rate of 22% within 3 months, 57% within 12 months, and 78% within 3 years.1 Wound care is a medical necessity in this patient population, costing $14.9 billion annually in total direct medical costs or $6,391/ per patient in the United States.2  An abundance of wound treatment options are available ranging from conventional dressings to biologics, and negative pressure wound therapy. However, all these commonly used alternatives require frequent and painful dressing changes, draining precious medical resources.  Optimizing wound care treatment by decreasing healing time, frequency of dressing changes, and associated healthcare costs would improve overall costs for both the patient and healthcare systems.Methods:This case series examined 3 patients with recurring VLUs treated at a Veterans Affairs medical center. Treatment history and associated costs of each  of their treatments including various wound supplies and estimated labor time and costs were calculated. Each patient was transitioned to Transforming Powder Dressing (TPD) and the associated costs, including labor, were calculated and compared to prior VLU treatment costs. TPD is a powder dressing comprised of biocompatible polymers similar to those used in contact lenses, that after hydration, forms a flexible and durable matrix which can be left on for an extended time (up to 4 weeks).Results:When compared to VLU treatment prior to utilization of TPD, total estimated costs of wound care were reduced by over 50% during the TPD treatment period relative to SOC, primarily due to decreasing the frequency of dressing changes and decreasing overall material costs. Post-discharge visits were also reduced versus traditional standard of care.Discussion: Reduction in resource utilization translates to substantial cost savings for healthcare systems. The presented cases illustrate the significant potential  of TPD to generate long-term economic benefits by providing a cost-effective alternative in wound management of VLUs.References:1. He, B., Shi, J., Li, L., Ma, Y., Zhao, H., Qin, P., & Ma, P. (2024). Prevention strategies for the recurrence of venous leg ulcers: A scoping review. International Wound Journal, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14759 2. Rice JB, Desai U, Cummings AK, Birnbaum HG, Skornicki M, Parsons N. Burden of venous leg ulcers in the United States. J Med Econ. 2014 May;17(5):347-56. doi: 10.3111/13696998.2014.903258. Epub 2014 Mar 24. PMID: 24625244