Introduction: </strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lower extremity wounds (LEWs) can often result in sepsis or loss of a limb.<sup>1, 2</sup> A study of patients in a Long-Term Acute Care setting with LEWs showed improved re-epithelization following esterified hyaluronic acid matrix (eHAM) application.<sup>3 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /><br /><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 102%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">
Objective: </span></strong><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 102%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Evaluate eHAM application in order to benefit wound healing in patients with LEWs in the specified setting</span></span></sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><br/><br/><b>Methods</b>: <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -.25pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
Method: </strong>Nine patients with a total of 9 LEWs were evaluated. Where applicable, 2–4-layer compression dressings were applied weekly or biweekly for compression. eHAM was applied weekly after initial application. The initial wound area, weeks to wound healing, and rate of wound healing was determined per patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><br/><br/><b>Results</b>: <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -.25pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
Results: </strong> The average number of weeks for wound healing as well as the average rate of wound healing for all wounds was improved at a significant rate. There was no incidence of infection observed.</p><br/><br/><b>Discussion</b>: <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -.25pt;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
Conclusion: </strong>We conclude from this case study of nine patients, that eHAM has a beneficial effect on wound healing in patients with LEWs, especially in larger area wounds and in a Long-Term Acute Care Setting.</p><br/><br/><b>Trademarked Items</b>: Hyalomatrix ™; Medline Industries LP., Northfield, IL<br/><br/><b>References</b>: 1. Falanga, V. "Wound healing and its impairment in the diabetic foot." Lancet 366 (2005): 1736-1743.
2. Lipsky BA, Berendt AR. "Principles and practice of antibiotic therapy of diabetic foot infections." Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 16 (2000): Suppl 1:S42-6
3. Caravaggi, C, Grigolletto, F, Scuderi, N. Wound Bed Preparation with a Dermal Substitute (Hyalomatrix PA) Facilitates Re-epithelialization and Healing: Results of a Multicenter Prospective, Observational Study on Complex Chronic Ulcers (The Fast Study). Wounds 2011; 23 (8): 228-235<br/><br/>