Economic Burden of Wound Infection

Technological advancements, such as Sky Medical Technology‘s wearable geko™ device, mark a new era in the treatment of Venous Leg Ulcers (VLUs), a wound on the leg or ankle caused by abnormal or damaged veins. Wound infections are common and can have devastating impacts on patients. Furthermore, they are costly for struggling healthcare systems. The bottom line is compelling: wounds affect nearly 15% of individuals (8.2 million patients), and the annual cost is estimated to be $28 billion. New therapies, in addition to addressing the physical and emotional impact on patients, can represent cost savings for struggling healthcare systems.

Background

VLUs are chronic skin ulcers that form above the ankle and below the knee. They are caused by damaged or blocked veins in the leg, often a result of trauma, varicose veins, or oedema. Chronic venous insufficiency, caused by VLUs, results in a build-up of blood in the lower leg, which can cause significant ankle oedema and structural changes in the skin. This can eventually lead to ulceration and a multitude of adverse consequences.

Chronic leg ulcers affect up to 3% of adults over the age of 60, rising to more than 5% of adults over the age of 80. VLUs are the most common type of leg ulcer, accounting for roughly 80% of all cases and affecting 200,000 UK citizens.

Impact on Patients

As with most chronic wounds, the risk of developing a VLU increases with age, and the global prevalence of VLUs is expected to rise. The result, exacerbated by an increasingly overweight population, adds strain to already overburdened healthcare services.

VLUs have a significant impact on patients' quality of life, causing excruciating pain and impeding their ability to walk or sleep. This can lead to mental health problems and other physical repercussions. This physical and emotional toll continues until the wound heals, and VLUs are notoriously slow to heal and difficult to treat, putting patients at higher risk of infection. Only 53% of patients heal within a year, and some never heal at all.

Embracing Technological Solutions

Medical technology is becoming increasingly prevalent in VLU prevention and treatment. Clinicians are increasingly combining new therapies with established standards of care to improve leg ulcer healing in non-infected patients. Indeed, technology can help reduce the risk of infection in the first place.

Sky Medical Technology's geko™ neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) device can supplement traditional compression therapy. The wearable geko™ unit activates the calf and foot muscle pumps by stimulating the nerve. It uses painless electrical impulses to enhance blood flow, without requiring the patient to move. As a result, venous, arterial, and microcirculatory blood flow increases. Subsequently, oxygen-rich blood is delivered to the wound edge and bed. Simply put, it delivers more effective healing.

The augmentative effect of NMES on the microcirculation, both in terms of flux and pulsatility, contributes to wound healing efficacy. Furthermore, geko™ is being used in healthcare systems around the world to treat a variety of medical conditions, from venous thromboembolism to the prevention of oedema.