Diabetic foot ulcers treated with Granulox demonstrate significantly better and faster wound closure

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Oxygen therapy, Granulox (inFirst Healthcare), has been shown to be an effective, safe and easy-to-use treatment, according to a new study published in the recent edition of Diabetic Foot and Ankle Journal

The comprehensive study—the first of its kind in the UK—was conducted by South Tees NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, Northallerton, UK, and treated 40 patients with non-healing diabetic foot ulcers that were present for 12 weeks or more, with Granulox haemoglobin spray.

After just four weeks, all trial patients reported a reduction in wound surface area, elimination of slough and an improvement in exudate levels.

  • Wound size: At week four of the study, patients using Granulox saw a rapid reduction in overall wound size with an average of 63% reduction area compared to just 26% in the control group. This reached 95% reduction in wound area by the end of the trial at week 28 compared to just 63% in the control group.
  • Pain: Both the trial and control patient groups started from a mean pain score of 5.1. The patients treated with Granulox were all completely pain-free by week 12 compared to the control group, where six patients were still suffering with a mean pain score of 3.7.
  • Slough/exudate: With the use of Granulox, complete slough elimination was achieved after just four weeks compared to only a 10% reduction in the control group. In addition, 100% of patients demonstrated a significant reduction in exudate at this timepoint, compared to just 44% in the control group.

Both the patient and clinician experience of Granulox was positive, with the treatment’s easy-to-use spray functionality described as a key product benefit.

Sharon Hunt, study author and specialist tissue viability nurse comments, “Diabetic foot ulcers have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life and place patients at higher risk for lower limb amputations. The management of diabetic foot ulcers patients can place a significant burden on NHS resources. Aside from the clinical benefits seen in the trial, 75% of patients were able to apply Granulox independently, making the prospect of patients managing their diabetic foot ulcer independently or with the help of their healthcare team a distinct reality.”

Independent clinical studies have shown that, when added to standard care, Granulox could save the NHS an average of £2,330 for every diabetic foot ulcer patient.  Based on current figures, this is a potential saving to the NHS of more than £204m.

The treatment has recently been added to the NHS Drug Tariff, establishing a new Haemoglobin category. Granulox has been available on prescription across the UK since 1st October 2016.