Innovation In Chronic Wound Care: The Future Of Better Patient Outcomes

The field of wound care is a constantly evolving space with technology and innovation, as is the endless quest to discover better ways of treating the millions of patients affected by chronic and acute wounds. 

As an industry, we believe that the wound care management today is undergoing a technological transformation, with novel inventions supported by digital diagnostics and superior wound healing formulas. Precision technology has been deployed to solve problems in the field of wound care, aiming at relieving pain, promoting healing or controlling infection of the wound.

While we continue to develop drugs to treat other diseases and enhance the healing of wounds, the next generation of wound care needs to incorporate biologic therapies to improve wound closure rates for highly compromised patients. Emphasis on therapies that can be applied by single, nonsurgical applications at multiple sites of care will remain the point of focus.

There are still numerous opportunities for cost-effective innovations in wound care, simplifying the core screening process to improve access to timely healing therapies. With both the increasing prevalence and clinical severity of patients with acute and chronic wounds globally, it is imperative that along with innovations like harnessing advanced new patented technologies, there is a focus on frugal innovations too.

Out-of-pocket patient costs are higher for individuals who seek specialty care, and wound management remains expensive for individuals without appropriate reimbursement for services and products, which would keep the costs of treating injuries costly for individuals.

The estimated prevalence of chronic wounds has been found to be 1 to 2 percent of the total population in developed countries, making treatment and management of such wounds a substantial burden on patients, caretakers and the healthcare system.

A retrospective analysis globally showcased that most patients had at least one kind of wound, with surgical and diabetic ulcers being the most common and costly to treat. The prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers also indicates the crucial need for a better planned approach for wound care and diabetes care especially for developing countries, as opposed to developed countries, in order to better manage future global chronic wound burden.

While improvements have been made to achieve better clinical outcomes, access to diabetic foot care still has a long way to go. The burden of diabetic foot diseases has a huge negative outcome in terms of public health, potentially leaving patients at risk of infection, sepsis, amputation and potential fatality. Delaying treatment could have negative effects on long-term outcomes and further adds to the socio-economic burden.

Patients with late-stage wounds are typically given little choice but to have their feet amputated and healthcare providers should look for solutions to avoid that adverse outcome. The current standard-of-care used for the treatment of complicated, chronic wounds is typically very invasive, have poor efficacy and have a higher incidence of complications like site acquired infections.

Finding an appropriate solution that adapts to multiple types and degrees of wound severity will be critical for improving patient outcomes. If such innovations are developed and perfected, wound healing time may decrease, even while the treatment of chronic, difficult-to-recover injuries is optimized. With the help and support of new-patented technologies and evidence-based biologic products, clinicians will be able to treat hard-to-heal wounds with even greater confidence, support, access and success.

Dr Ashok Moharana

Guest Author Chief Medical Officer, Healthium Medtech