Impact of continuous Topical Oxygen Therapy on wound moisture levels

Introduction: Moisture balance of the wound bed is important in wound healing.1  An ex vivo porcine wound model was used to assess the impact of oxygen flow during application of continuous Topical Oxygen Therapy (cTOT) on the moisture levels at the wound bed.Methods:Simulated wounds were created in decontaminated porcine skin explant. The tissue was then placed onto agar.  Pre-weighed Oxygen Delivery System (ODS) were placed onto the simulated wound bed and covered with a pre-weighed semi-occlusive dressing. The ODS was connected to the cTOT device with either oxygen flow of 11ml/hr (test) or no oxygen flow (negative control). A positive control consisted of simulated wound only (no device) covered with a semi-occlusive dressing. All samples were incubated at 35°C ± 2°C at 80% humidity for 24h or 48h. Both test and control samples were assessed in triplicate. Following incubation, test and control samples were removed from the incubator and ODS and dressings were removed and weighed. A skin surface hydration meter was used to assess moisture levels in the tissue.Results:No significant difference was observed between the test (oxygen flow) or control (no oxygen flow) when assessing moisture levels in the porcine tissue explant or weight of the ODS and dressings following 24h or 48h incubation.Discussion: cTOT is an adjunctive therapy that supports faster healing2–4 and pain reduction5 in non-healing hypoxic wounds.  This laboratory test using an ex vivo model to simulate the wound environment confirms that the oxygen flow of 11ml/hr with the cTOT device does not reduce moisture levels in the wound bed.References:1. Schultz, G. S., Barillo, D. J., Mozingo, D. W. & Chin, G. A. Wound bed preparation and a brief history of TIME. Int Wound J 1, 19–32 (2004). 2. Carter, M. J. et al. Efficacy of Topical Wound Oxygen Therapy in Healing Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) 12, 177–186 (2023). 3. Serena, T. E. et al. Topical oxygen therapy in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers: a multicentre, open, randomised controlled clinical trial. J Wound Care 30, S7–S14 (2021). 4. Kaufman, H. et al. Topical oxygen therapy used to improve wound healing in a large retrospective study of wounds of mixed aetiology. Wounds International 12, 63–68 (2021). 5. Jebril, W. et al. Topical oxygen treatment relieves pain from hard-to-heal leg ulcers and improves healing: a case series. J Wound Care 31, 4–11 (2022).