Improving the ability to eliminate wounds and pressure ulcers

Abstract

Pressure ulcers can be initiated by as little as 2 hours of constant pressure on the ski, that blocks blood circulation causing the skin and underlying tissues to die, leading to an open wound that never heals, but continues to grow in diameter and depth, and frequently jeopardizes patients' lives. Despite the application of many diverse techniques, pressure ulcers remain exceptionally difficult to heal because many ulcer elimination techniques have minimal effects, and although other techniques may appear to be effective, the evidence supporting their efficacy is weak. However, increasing evidence indicates that other techniques, such as the application of platelet-rich plasma, vacuum assisted closure, electrical stimulation, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are effective and should be substituted for the older techniques. This review describes different standard and novel techniques that have been tested for eliminating pressure ulcers and discusses the relative efficacy of these techniques.

Nature's Electric Potential: A Systematic Review of the Role of Bioelectricity in Wound Healing and Regenerative Processes in Animals, Humans, and Plants

“…With treatment in specialized wound centers in Germany these costs rise to £9,569 per patient (Purwins et al, 2010 ). One in five in-patients in European hospitals have a pressure ulcer (Martin-Granados and McCaig, 2014 )—which are open wounds that are exceptionally difficult to heal, often progressing to become life-threatening (Kuffler, 2015 ). Moreover, in spite of medical interventions there is a rising prevalence of such wounds, associated with the increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus, and an increasingly aging population (Fonder et al, 2008 ), with 15% of diabetic foot ulcers resulting in amputation (Posnett and Franks, 2008 ), or an amputation each 30 s worldwide (Richard and Schuldiner, 2008 ), which in turn leads to over 50% mortality within 5 years (Reiber et al, 1995 ).…”

Extract from Periostracum cicadae Inhibits Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Induced by Ultraviolet B Irradiation on HaCaT Keratinocytes

“…Our previous study demonstrates that UVB irradiation results in ROS accumulation and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) activation, which causes the nuclear p53 accumulation and thrombomodulin (TM) promoter binding to inhibit TM expression [17]. To prevent oxidative deterioration, antioxidant extracted from natural herbal sources is widely reported to be used to protect the skin from damage by limiting the production of free radicals, calming inflammation [18], and stimulating blood flow in the skin to encourage the growth of new cells [19, 20]. Nrf2 also plays an important role in protecting the skin against UV irradiation [21].…”

Results of hyperbaric oxygenation in chronic wound healing – preliminary findings

“…Despite the application of diverse techniques, there is little evidence supporting their efficiency. An individualised approach to wound healing technologies is regarded as a key element of several novel approaches, including hyperbaric oxygenation therapy (HBOT) [1]. Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy is perceived as a novel basic or supplementary method in wound healing.…”

“…Its application significantly increases the percentage of completely healed patients (by up to 74-100%) and minimises the number of amputations relative to traditional approaches [1].…”

“…The pathophysiology underlying improved wound healing of HBOT is still under research -a comprehensive explanation of the recent concepts in aforementioned area has recently been published in papers by Kuffler [1] and by Asai et al [4]. Hyperbaric oxygenation therapy increases cellular pO 2 leading to more intense production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS).…”