Equine pericardium collagen wound dressing in the treatment of the neuropathic diabetic foot wound: a pilot study.

This research article explores the use of equine pericardium, a collagen wound dressing derived from the tissue around a horse’s heart, in treating neuropathic foot wounds in diabetic patients. The study suggests that this treatment helps to significantly reduce wound size and promote healing, presenting a potentially effective solution for diabetic foot ulcer management.

Introduction and Study Design

• The article focuses on a pilot study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of equine pericardium collagen dressing in treating neuropathic foot wounds — a common complication in diabetic patients that often leads to lower-limb amputations.
• No previous studies have specifically investigated the use of equine pericardium despite evident interest in collagen-based dressings. The researchers, therefore, undertook this study to fill this gap in medical knowledge.
• The study involved 23 consecutive patients presenting with 34 neuropathic foot wounds. A treatment protocol was applied that included the standard usage of equine pericardium dressings and subsequent progress monitoring.

Methodology

• The dressing was applied in a standard manner, and the patients adhered to a standard post-application treatment protocol.
• Changes in wound size were observed and reported when the equine dressing was taken off, as well as four and twelve weeks after its application.
• Patient dressings were changed every 3 to 4 days until either the wound healed or the study reached its twelfth week.

Results

• Out of the initial 34 wounds in 23 patients, 32 wounds from 22 patients were available for the prospective evaluation. At the beginning of the study, the median wound size was 299 mm².
• On average, the equine pericardium dressing was removed after 2.9 weeks of application. At this point, 94% (30 wounds) showed improvement, with the median size reducing to 115 mm², translating to an average size reduction of 44.3%.
• Four weeks after application, the average wound size reduced by 52.3%, and by the twelfth week, 15 of the wounds (47% of the total) had healed completely.

Conclusions

• This research serves as the first report on the use of an equine pericardium dressing in the treatment of neuropathic foot ulcers. The findings indicate that this method is safe and beneficial for patients.
• Given the significant reduction in the size of the wounds and the considerable healing seen after 12 weeks, the equine pericardium dressing presents as a promising treatment option for neuropathic wounds, common complications in diabetic patients.