Fish Skin Grafts Show Promise for Improved Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing
A randomized prospective trial, as reported by the American College of Surgeons, has demonstrated that decellularized, lyophilized fish skin grafts derived from Atlantic cod may enhance healing in patients with high-risk diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) involving deep structures such as muscle, bone, and joints. The study compared the efficacy of fish skin grafts to standard wound care, which typically includes debridement, cleansing, and skin grafting.
Results indicated that 44% of patients treated with fish skin grafts achieved complete healing at 16 weeks, compared to 26% in the standard care group. These findings suggest that fish skin grafts could offer a more effective treatment option for complex DFUs, potentially reducing healing time and improving patient outcomes. However, accompanying editorial commentary emphasized the need for further research into the cost-effectiveness of this treatment approach, given the significant expense associated with the grafts.
Read the full article on the American College of Surgeons website.
Keywords:
Fish skin grafts,
Diabetic foot ulcers,
Atlantic cod,
Standard wound care,
Randomized prospective trial,
Cost-effectiveness
Dardari D, Piaggesi A, Potier L, et al. Intact Fish Skin Graft to Treat Deep Diabetic Foot Ulcers. NEJM Evid. 2024;3(12).
Castellani L, Arruda S. Hooked on Healing—Fish Skin Grafts for Diabetic Foot Ulcers. NEJM Evid. 2024;3(12).