New techniques for wound management: A systematic review of their role in the management of chronic wounds

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Wound debridement consists of removing necrotic or devitalized tissue and reducing the bacterial load. It is an essential step to bring about wound healing. Numerous debridement methods exist, such as autolytic [1], enzymatic [2], biodebridement [3], and surgical/sharp [4] and mechanical methods. Although sharp debridement using a scalpel or curette remains the gold standard [4], these techniques have several disadvantages. They are not appropriate for large surfaces, are not optimal for saving tissue, and they often lead to an uneven wound bed.

Recent innovations, such as hydrosurgery (Versajet) [5], ultrasound therapy (the MIST therapy device), [6] and plasma-mediated bipolar radio-frequency ablation therapy (Coblation) [7] could represent an alternative to conventional debridement in many cases, especially for chronic non-healing wounds. Those methods remain more expensive, but could be seen as more efficient than conventional techniques. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe and compare these three recently developed methods and to identify the particular benefits of each device.

MATERIALS

We compared three recently developed methods for wound management: hydrosurgery (Versajet hydrosurgery system), ultrasound (the MIST therapy device), and plasma-mediated bipolar radio-frequency ablation (Coblation).

METHODS

RESULTS

A total of 389 references were identified by our search strategy, including seven studies of hydrosurgery, six of ultrasound, and two of plasma-mediated bipolar radio-frequency ablation that met our criteria for inclusion. Fig. 1 shows how studies were selected through the processes of identification, screening, and eligibility, with 15 studies [9-23] finally included in this review.

Fig. 1.

Flow chart of article research and inclusion

Population

The 15 articles included studies that involved 563 patients (Table 1). We analyzed seven articles [9-15] investigating hydrosurgery, including 255 patients with an average age of 56.1 years (range, 1–79 years). The level of evidence was low to moderate. For ultrasound therapy, six articles [16-21] were screened. A total of 296 patients with an average age of 68.1 years (range, 40–78 years) were treated. One study [16] had a high level of evidence (Table 2). Concerning Coblation therapy, only two articles [22,23] were selected, including 31 patients. The level of evidence was low.

Table 1.

Characteristics of included studies

Table 2.

Randomized controlled trials

Operating time

Caputo et al. [10] found that on an average, hydrosurgery debridement was significantly faster than classic sharp debridement (10.8 minutes vs. 17.7 minutes). Gurunluoglu [9] gave a mean time to debride the wound of 15.5 minutes, but these results were not accompanied by data regarding the surface area of the wounds. For ultrasound therapy, the operating time varied depending on the team [16-20], ranging from 3 to 20 minutes. No data were found for Coblation therapy (Tables 2 and 3).

Table 3.

Summary of articles analyzed

DISCUSSION

The ideal debridement method should improve tissue sparing, be easy to use even in deep wounds, allow the debridement to be completed quickly, not be hemorrhagic, have a low relative cost compared to repeated dressings, decrease the bacterial load, and improve the global healing rate.

Five debridement methods are currently used: autolytic [1], enzymatic [2], biological [3], surgical/sharp [4], and mechanical methods. Autolytic, enzymatic, and biological methods are selective, but are time-consuming and may cause the destruction of adjacent tissues. Autolytic debridement, which is the body’s natural response to necrotic tissue, is painless and selective, but the process is slow [24]. Enzymatic debridement has been suggested as an alternative method, and is useful when other techniques are not feasible during the initial management of a chronic wound [2]. Recently, biodebridement using maggots has become increasingly popular. Larval therapy can be highly selective and rapid [3]. Sharp debridement (scalpel or curette) is the current gold standard [4]. This method is faster but not selective, because it may also remove healthy tissue. This technique is also more hemorrhagic and painful. Finally, mechanical debridement requires a competent practitioner with specialist training, and a hospital admission is necessary [25].

Recently, three innovative methods have emerged: hydrosurgery (Versajet) [5], ultrasound therapy (MIST therapy) [6], and plasma-mediated bipolar radio-frequency ablation (Coblation therapy: Arthrocare) [7].

Hydrosurgery (Supplemental Video S1) has been described as an appropriate debridement technique for burns [26,27], venous leg ulcers [28], and pressure ulcers [24]. The Versajet hydrosurgery system is a hydrosurgical device based on the principle of the Venturi effect. In wound debridement, the benefits of irrigation in terms of reducing the bacterial load are well recognized. The wound is flushed with saline solution (at 118–300 m/s and 103–827 bar, depending on the 10-step speed setting on the console) to simultaneously remove dead tissue and dilute the bacterial load. The cutting effects can also be manipulated by adjusting the hand piece orientation and pressure, with high precision [28].

Caputo et al. [10] presented significant evidence of shorter debridement times (10.8 minutes) using Versajet over conventional debridement (17.7 minutes). No significant difference in time to achieve stable wound closure and no difference in quantitative bacterial counts (P=0.376) were found in the study by Liu et al. [14]. This device is interesting for dry necrosis, and according to Klein et al. [5], the device using the Venturi effect seemed to be more conservative than Coblation [5].

In our own experiences, we have observed the Venturi effect to be very effective on dry fibrin and necrotic tissue, but it does not allow hemostasis, limiting its use for large and hemorrhagic wounds.

Ultrasound-based MIST therapy (Supplemental Video S2) devices deliver energy of 0.1 to 0.5 W/cm² within the scope of defined treatment. The currently available literature suggests that low-frequency ultrasound is capable of stimulating cellular activity through mechanical energy in the absence of key growth factors, ATP, cytokines, or other enzymes [20]. Signal transduction pathways can be stimulated by ultrasound-generated mechanical energy [16]. MIST ultrasound therapy has been shown to enhance angiogenesis and collagen deposition in a diabetic mouse model [29]. Two phenomena relevant to the mechanisms of ultrasound therapy have been identified: acoustic cavitation and acoustic microstreaming. Acoustic cavitation describes conformational changes caused by the mechanical energy from an ultrasound wave that is absorbed by individual protein molecules [30]. Cavitation occurs with the production and vibration of micron-sized bubbles formed in the tissues, which lead to changes in cell function [31]. Acoustic microstreaming occurs when fluids move along sound wave boundaries, such as cell membranes, resulting in increased protein synthesis and increased permeability of the cell membranes and vascular walls [32]. More research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms by which ultrasound energy may contribute to the tissue repair process on a cellular level.

A study of MIST therapy by Ennis et al. [16] showed a significant reduction in exudation at week 5 (P=0.001). Furthermore, the mean time to healing was shorter in the group using ultrasound therapy (9.12 weeks) than in the control group (11 weeks) (P=0.0366), and a higher proportion of wounds had healed by week 12 in the ultrasound group (40.7%) than in the control group (14.3%) (P=0.0366). Of the 133 initially enrolled patients, 55 were finally analyzed. In an intention-to-treat analysis, no statistically significant difference was found [16]. MIST therapy is easy to use and fast; the average time varied between 3 minutes and 20 minutes [18-20]. Unpublished animal studies demonstrating bacterial disruption after ultrasound therapy were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The indications for MIST therapy appear to be simple wounds, with a low density of fibrin, a low risk of bleeding, and some small-area infected wounds. It is thus particularly useful in diabetic patients. This technique is especially relevant for ambulatory patients who require a minimum of three sessions per week [19] for faster wound healing. The technique is very simple and can be performed by nurses.

Concerning plasma-mediated bipolar radio-frequency ablation therapy (Supplemental Video S3), few articles have been published. Conventional electrosurgical devices are based on principles described in 1909 [33]. The original technique used a high current density, generating very high temperatures capable of disintegrating tissue through a pyrolytic process [34]. Coblation uses bipolar radio-frequency to energize molecules via a conductive solution surrounding the active electrode, thus creating a precisely focused plasma field. This plasma wire is offset by approximately 0.5 mm from the wand tip, enabling a regular debridement depth. Currently, no randomized controlled trials have been published [23]. One study is still in progress (NCT00534781), but no results are available. The importance of biofilms and bacterial colonization in relation to impaired wound healing is receiving significant scientific and clinical attention [35]. In an in vitro study, Sonnergren et al. [36] showed significant microbicidal effects compared to hydrosurgery or standard debridement. The reduction compared with untreated controls was 99.87% to 99.99% (P<0.0001) for all strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans). In contrast to hydrosurgery, there is no risk of spreading aerosolized bacteria [37], so health personnel are less exposed to bacterial contamination in the air. Coblation provides a hemostatic effect [23], which is particularly interesting for chronic inflammatory wounds and for patients receiving anticoagulant therapy. It is appropriate for the preparation of skin grafts and causes no bleeding, thus allowing a one-time closure. The Coblation technology may be indicated for any type of debridement involving fibrotic and fatty necrosis debridement and wound bed preparation [23]. In our experience [23], this device was most useful for fibrotic, infected, and hemorrhagic wounds. This instrument has gradually replaced the use of hydrosurgery. It also seems to us to be more accurate and more convenient than hydrosurgery. However, the wear of the filaments limits its use for wounds of which the surface is less than 5% of the total body surface.

The treatment cost for the MIST therapy system is US dollar (USD) 9,870 per patient for 26 weeks based on three treatments per week. The rental cost per treatment was estimated to be USD 8, assuming that one MIST therapy system would be used on five patients per day for 5 days a week. Its consumables cost was calculated to be USD 45 per treatment. The treatment cost for MIST therapy also included wound dressing costs at USD 9 per treatment and nursing time at USD 65 per visit. The cost of a Versajet console was USD 7,500 to 9,000, and each hand piece was USD 300. It has been estimated by the manufacturer that the cost per treatment was USD 340 for the technology and USD 550 for staff and operating theater time. Comparatively, the cost of a Coblation console was USD 4,000 and that of a hand piece was USD 500.

PRACTICAL APPROACH

The analysis of this review and the extrapolation of our experience concerning hydrosurgery (150 procedures), Coblation (200 procedures), and ultrasound therapy (50 procedures) have allowed us to identify a practical approach:

- Coblation therapy seems to be particularly useful for dry fibrotic, infected, and bleeding wounds, typically chronic ulcers or small deep burns.

- Hydrosurgery can be used for infected [13], fibrinous [5] wounds and intermediate-depth and large burns.

- Finally, ultrasound seems useful in wounds with a low density of fibrin, a low risk of bleeding, and a small infected area, as in diabetic foot ulcer lesions or small leg ulcers that require frequent attention, often from a nurse.

We summarize these indications in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2.

Technical characteristics of these procedures

(A) Versajet hydrosurgery system, (B) MIST therapy device and (C) ArthroCare.

Our study had several limitations. First, no study included in this review compares the three techniques, and the practical approach was developed based on our own experiences, without specific scientific evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to standard debridement techniques with a scalpel or curette, ultrasound therapy showed a significant reduction in healing time and a shorter operating time, which may be associated with an indirect financial gain. No comparative study dedicated to Coblation was identified.

This systematic review highlighted the progress of these three methods and proposed an optimal use for each based on our personal experiences. However, further randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate and compare these three innovative techniques.

Supplementary Material

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