Using a Topical Oxygen Delivery System over Tissue-Based Therapy to Accelerate Wound Healing

Background: The lack of oxygen availability in the wound bed has been implicated as one of the culprits behind the chronicity of many wounds. We looked at the effects of a novel topical oxygen delivery system (TODS) on wounds being treated with tissue-based therapy for wound healing.

Methods: Five patients who had diabetic foot ulcers that required tissue-based therapy to help heal their lower extremity wounds had a TODS placed on their wounds in clinic one week after placement of the tissue based therapy with overlying adhesive foam. Patients returned weekly for wound evaluation and changing of the TODS dressing. Data on wound size, exudate, signs of infection, and pain were collected weekly for four weeks.

Results: The patient who followed up for eight weeks had a 93% wound size reduction at the end of eight weeks and complete closure at 12 weeks. There was an average wound size reduction of 60% at the end of week 4. At the end of three weeks, there was an average wound size reduction of 43%.

Average healing rates with tissue-based therapy at our institution without adjunctive TODS was six months to complete healing.

Conclusion: This is an initial attempt to incorporate the use of a novel TODS in the healing of difficult-to-heal wounds that require the application of tissue based-therapy. TODS could potentially significantly increase the rate of wound closure in wounds treated with tissue-based therapy.