ADA: Autologous Platelet Gel Effectively Treats Diabetic Plantar Wounds
Use of the autologous platelet gel, AuTolo-Gel, to treat non-healing diabetic plantar surface wounds provides good volume reduction and wound healing, researchers said here yesterday at the 61st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.
Carelyn P. Fylling, MSN, with Fylling Associates in Walker, Minnesota, presented the results of a chart review conducted at six medical sites where the autologous platelet gel had been used to treat non-healing plantar wounds on the foot surface in diabetic patients.
The autologous platelet gel was produced at the point of care by an apheresis process with the physician applying the gel topically to the wound after proper debridement of the wound bed.
The bioactive gel contains platelet membranes, activated platelets, multiple platelet-derived growth factors, and a fibrin-matrix structure.
The researchers measured outcomes from the start of the autologous platelet gel to healing or the last documented care.
Evaluable wounds were those that were healed, not healed, or amputated. Healing was defined as 100 percent mature epithelium with no measurements or drainage.
Overall, 44 patients with 58 wounds were evaluable. Forty-five (77.6 percent) of these wounds healed. Two (3.4 percent) wounds were recommended for ray amputations.
Healing occurred in 24 (88.9 percent) of 27 wounds that were less than 500 mm3; in 12 (70.6 percent) of 17 wounds that ranged from 500 to 2,000 mm3; in six (66.7 percent) of nine wounds that ranged from 2,000 to 10,000 mm3, and in three (60 percent) of five wounds that exceeded 10,000 mm3.
Healed wounds achieved 50 to 100 percent volume reduction at an increased rate: 29 percent at five weeks, 60 percent at 10 weeks, 73 percent at 15 weeks, 91 percent at 20 weeks, and 98 percent at 25 weeks.
These rates of volume reduction are better than the rate of volume reduction that has been reported in the literature with other wound healing therapies, the Ms. Fylling said.
