Beyond Traditional Wound Care: How Amniotic Tissue is Changing VLU Treatment

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are a significant health concern in the United States, affecting approximately 1% to 3% of the population. This prevalence increases to about 4% among adults aged 65 and older. (1)

The financial burden of VLUs is substantial. In 2019, Medicare expenditures for beneficiaries with VLUs as the principal diagnosis amounted to nearly $1.1 billion. (2)

Additionally, individual treatment costs can be significant, with estimates suggesting an average of $16,000 per treatment episode in the North American population (3).

Traditional treatments for VLUs include compression therapy, wound dressings, and, in some cases, surgical interventions. However, these methods can have limitations, such as prolonged healing times and high recurrence rates.

At BioStem, our allografts intended for homologous use as a protective covering, offer clinicians an innovative solution. Leveraging the benefits of amniotic tissue, these allografts provide a natural barrier that supports the body’s healing processes. Our proprietary BioREtain process ensures the preservation of the tissue’s inherent properties, maintaining its effectiveness as a protective covering.

Incorporating these allografts into VLU treatment protocols can potentially improve wound closure rates and enhance patient outcomes.  By providing our amniotic allografts as a protective covering to support the body’s healing process, VENDAJE and VENDAJE AC offer a promising advancement in the management of venous leg ulcers.

Case Study Insights:

A case study in Wound Central entitled: Use of amniotic membrane in hard-to-heal wounds: a multicenter retrospective study suggests that implementing this approach could lead to fewer clinic visits, cost savings and improved patient quality of life.(4)

Another case study focusing on the application of dehydrated amniotic membrane allografts (DAMA) in advanced VLUs reported successful wound closure after six weekly applications. The study highlighted the potential of DAMA to act as an effective barrier. (5)

These findings suggest that amniotic tissue allografts can be a valuable adjunct in the management of VLUs, offering improved healing rates and reduced treatment times compared to standard of care alone.

Sources:

• aafp.org  (2) woundsource.com (3) jaad.org (4) jwc-woundcentral.com (5) jelsciences.com

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