(EBP-007) Continuum of care with Copper Oxide Dressings – can one dressing fits all stages of wound healing?

Copper Oxide Dressings (COD) have a known antibacterial effect and are approved by the FDA for use as antibacterial dressings. Nevertheless, numerous basic science studies document the beneficial effects of COD on tissue healing, angiogenesis, elastin and collagen formation and improving skin parameters and viability. The molecular mechanisms of these actions were described in a diabetic mice wound model and cell culture studies. However, so far there has not been any documentation of continuum COD effect on all phases of wound healing in clinical use.

Methods:

We have studied the effect of the continuum use of COD throughout all the wound healing stages during the last three years.

Results:

We have seen the positive effect of the COD along all different stages of wound healing, including protection from microbial infection, stimulation of autolytic debridement, intense granulation tissue formation, epithelization, and improved skin maturation after wound closure. We describe selected cases in which COD were used for continuum wound care in various difficult clinical conditions. The selected cases are full thickness skin necrosis with eschar formation after necrotizing fasciitis and after burn, vasculopathy patients on hemodialysis, large exposed bone after trans-metatarsal amputation, and wound necrosis after venous harvesting for cardiac bypass surgery.

Discussion:

In all the cases described, the COD were applied from the onset of the wounds to the post wound closure period, substituting negative pressure wound therapy and skin grafting, with good functional outcome, good skin quality and reduced scaring. Taken together, our results indicate that the COD can fit all stages of wound healing and can be used continuously and throughout all the wound healing stages, making the wound management and treatment efficacious, facile, and comfortable to both the patients and treating staff.

Trademarked Items:

References: 1. Melamed, E., Kiambi, P., Okoth, D., Honigber, I., Tamir, E., and Borkow, G. (2021) Healing of Chronic Wounds by Copper Oxide-Impregnated Wound Dressings – Case Series. Medicina 57, 296. https://doi.org/10.3390/
2. Borkow, G., Melamed, E. (2021) Copper, an abandoned player returning to the wound healing battle. In: Recent Advances in Wound Healing. Ed: Shahin Aghaei; IntechOpen London: 5 Princes Gate Court, London, SW7 2QJ, UK. ISBN: 978-1-83968-572-9
3. Ogen-Shtern, N., Chumin, K., Silberstein, E., Borkow, G. (2021) Copper ions ameliorated thermal burn-induced damage in ex-vivo human skin organ culture. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology 34(6):317-327. doi: 10.1159/000517194.
4. Melamed E., Rovitsky, A., Roth, T., Assa, L., Borkow, G. (2021) Stimulation of Healing of Non-Infected Stagnated Diabetic Wounds by Copper Oxide-ImpregnatedWound Dressings. Medicina 57(10):1129. doi: 10.3390/medicina57101129.
5. Weitman, C.C., Roth, T., Borkow, G. (2022) Copper to the wound rescue after everything else failed: Case Report. Archives of Clinical and Medical Case Reports 6 (3): 459-466.