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A Safe and Effective Alternative to Debridement of Lower Extremity Wounds With the Use of Active Leptospermum Honey Dressings
Clinical Issue:
With the loss of papain-urea based debridement agents, the need to find a safe and cost- effective alternative has heightened.
Objective:
Review of the literature noted Active Leptospermum Honey as an effective autolytic debriding product. Many patients in our outpatient setting are not candidates for surgical debridement. Evaluation of this product for debridement of devitalized tissue could be the key to a successful wound treatment program.
Methodology:
Five patients were asked to participate in a 4-week open label pilot study. Selection criteria was limited to lower extremity ulcers with a minimum of 50% devitalized tissue. Type of Active Leptospermum Honey dressing used was dependent on amount of wound drainage. The dressing was applied directly to the non-viable tissue. The wound was then covered with a secondary dressing and compression therapy. Dressings changes were performed one to two times per week. Wound photography was performed at initiation of the honey dressing and on a weekly basis to document progression of debridement.
Results:
Active Leptospermum Honey dressings demonstrated an excellent ability to autolytically debride necrotic tissue in these five patients with lower extremity wounds. Improvements were documented by the percentage of increase in viable tissue. Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of the dressing, patients reported significant decrease in pain after use. Investigators confirmed that Active Leptospermum Honey would be a first line choice for debridement and speeded the velocity of wound healing.
Clinical Issue:
With the loss of papain-urea based debridement agents, the need to find a safe and cost- effective alternative has heightened.
Objective:
Review of the literature noted Active Leptospermum Honey as an effective autolytic debriding product. Many patients in our outpatient setting are not candidates for surgical debridement. Evaluation of this product for debridement of devitalized tissue could be the key to a successful wound treatment program.
Methodology:
Five patients were asked to participate in a 4-week open label pilot study. Selection criteria was limited to lower extremity ulcers with a minimum of 50% devitalized tissue. Type of Active Leptospermum Honey dressing used was dependent on amount of wound drainage. The dressing was applied directly to the non-viable tissue. The wound was then covered with a secondary dressing and compression therapy. Dressings changes were performed one to two times per week. Wound photography was performed at initiation of the honey dressing and on a weekly basis to document progression of debridement.
Results:
Active Leptospermum Honey dressings demonstrated an excellent ability to autolytically debride necrotic tissue in these five patients with lower extremity wounds. Improvements were documented by the percentage of increase in viable tissue. Due to the anti-inflammatory properties of the dressing, patients reported significant decrease in pain after use. Investigators confirmed that Active Leptospermum Honey would be a first line choice for debridement and speeded the velocity of wound healing.