Objectives: This study is aimed at assessing the safety and effectiveness of an advanced flowable wound matrix (FWM) in the treatment of hard-to-heal vascular leg ulcers that often involve deep structures, are irregular and/or tunnelled or excavated.
Methods: Records of patients seen at our Vascular Surgery Unit, at the University of Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli', for hard-to-heal vascular leg ulcers between January 2018 and January 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. For each wound aetiology, area and complications were recorded and evaluated. Every patient received one or more applications of FWM and was followed up.
Results: A total of 22 patients (18 female/four male), mean age 63±8.5 years, were treated. The initial wound area ranged from 4-58cm2. After wound bed preparation, FWM was applied. Treatment was well tolerated and effective-rate of complications was low, graft take was very satisfactory, and no graft loss, rejection or superimposed infections were observed. Healing time was short: 85% of ulcers healed after 12 weeks. Most importantly, there was a decrease in the rate and level of amputations as compared with standard wound care.
Conclusions: The data presented indicate that FWM is an option for the treatment of hard-to-heal vascular leg ulcers, particularly for those with an irregular cavity.
Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest.
Keywords: chronic wound; flowable wound matrix; graft take; hard-to-heal; irregular lesions; limb amputation; skin; skin substitute; tissue regeneration; ulcer; vascular ulcer; wound; wound care; wound healing; wounds.