Stimulation of Healing of Non-infected Stagnated Diabetic Wounds by Copper Oxide Impregnated Wound Dressings

Introduction:
Copper, a wide spectrum biocide, also plays a key role in angiogenesis and wound healing. This report is the first prospective comparative evaluation of its efficacy in healing stagnated diabetic foot wound

Methods:
We evaluated the capacity of the COD in stimulating healing of non-infected stagnated wounds in diabetic patients initially treated with standard of care (SOC) dressings for 1-2 weeks followed by 4 weeks of COD dressing and another week of SOC. Included were wound of diabetic foot patients 2-20cm2, without infection and without exposed bone. Screening periods assured that the wounds healing is slow to define them as hard to heal. The wounds condition was assessed by clinical evaluation and the size by computerized wound imaging artificial intelligence system.

Results:
There was total of 13 patients, 3 with plantar wounds and 10 with non-weight bearing wounds. There was a clear reduction in the mean wound area (53.2%; p=0.003), increase in granulation tissue (43.37; p<0.001) and reduction of fibrin (47.8%; p=0.002). The effect was not significant in the patients with plantar wounds due inadequate off-loading. Nevertheless, in the group of 10 patients with non-weight-bearing wounds, the reduction in wound size was dramatic (66.9%; p<0.001).

Conclusions:
The statistically significant influence of COD on wound healing of hard to heal wounds in diabetic patients, supports the notion that copper oxide impregnated dressings enhance wound healing.