The Value of a Novel Bioactive Glass Fiber Technology in Accelerating Healing While Minimizing Costs: A Case Series

Background: Chronic wounds represent a significant challenge in global health, affecting an estimated 6.5 million people in the United States alone, with an estimated cost of $25 billion annually. Despite the potential for improved healing, most novel wound therapeutics are expensive, which can be cost-prohibitive for use or limit patient access to treatment. Here, we evaluate the efficacy and value of a novel borate-based bioactive glass wound matrix in the treatment of chronic wounds.

Methods: Four patients with chronic wounds that had failed multiple prior wound treatments were identified and treated with MIRRAGEN Advanced Wound Matrix. Patient demographics, wound characteristics, and prior treatment history were obtained. Costs associated with prior treatments were estimated and recorded using available cost data.

Results: The average duration of wound presence prior to initiation of MIRRAGEN treatment was 391 days. All patients had multiple prior wound interventions, including operative procedures, and use of NPWT, skin substitutes, dermal grafts, and synthetic wound matrices. Prior wound care interventions resulted in an estimated average cost of $87,750 per patient. All patients healed using MIRRAGEN. The average time to heal was 55 days. On average, patients were treated with 3.3 applications of product, with an average cost to closure of $3,564. Use of MIRRAGEN advanced wound matrix at the initial presentation could have saved the health-care system an average of $84,186 per patient, and reduced wound duration an average of 336 days.

Conclusions: MIRRAGEN Advanced Wound Matrix use resulted in healing of chronic wounds that had failed multiple prior wound interventions. In this series of challenging cases, MIRRAGEN accelerated healing while minimizing costs and improving patient outcomes. By offering an effective wound care therapy at a low cost, MIRRAGEN has the potential to add significant value to both the health-care system and the patient.