Collagen-Alginate Dressing Enhances Healing and Quality of Life in Venous Leg Ulcer Patients
An observational study published in Wound Management & Prevention evaluated the efficacy and safety of a native bovine collagen-alginate dressing (Cutimed® Epiona®) in treating non-healing venous leg ulcers (VLUs). Conducted at the Northwell Health System Comprehensive Wound Care Healing Center and Hyperbarics in New York, the study involved 60 patients over a four-week period. The research aimed to assess wound area reduction, pain management, and improvements in wound-related quality of life (QoL).:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Key Highlights:
- Significant Wound Area Reduction: The mean wound area decreased from 17.8 ± 11.2 cm² to 11.4 ± 9.0 cm², with four patients achieving complete wound closure within the study period. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- Improved Pain Management: Patients reported decreased wound pain after two weeks of treatment, accompanied by a reduction in analgesic intake. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
- Enhanced Quality of Life: Assessments using the Wound-QoL-17 questionnaire indicated significant improvements in patients’ wound-related QoL, correlating with the observed wound area reduction. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
The study concluded that the collagen-alginate dressing is a safe and effective adjunct to standard wound care practices, promoting healing and improving patient outcomes in cases of hard-to-heal VLUs. Healthcare professionals rated the dressing’s performance as “very good” or “good,” and patients reported high levels of comfort during use. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
Read the full article on the Wound Management & Prevention website.
Keywords:
venous leg ulcer,
collagen-alginate dressing,
wound healing,
Alisha Oropallo,
Amit S. Rao,
Sally Kaplan,
Farisha Baksh,
Christina Del Pin