Chronic Wound Healing after Topical Treatment with Growth Factor in Conjunction with Low Intensity Laser
Keywords:
1. Cicatrização de Feridas; 2. Feridas Crônicas; 3. Tratamento; 4. Fator de Crescimento; 5. Laser de Baixa Intensidade.Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Chronic wounds are those that fail to progress in the orderly repair process in order to produce anatomical and functional integrity over a three-month period. This health condition interferes with quality of life, increases absenteeism and has great economic impact on the health system such as increasing treatment costs for institutions and families. Objectives: Identify if the topical use of Growth Factor in conjunction with Low Intensity Laser therapy will decrease the healing time of chronic wounds. Method: The data collection was performed at the Wound Care Outpatient Clinic at Hospital de Base, in which 20 participants received the application of the Epidermal Growth Factor topical gel in conjunction with the Low Intensity Laser three times a week during 21 days; the researcher administrated the treatment at the outpatient clinic. Results: Regarding initial wound conditions, patients in this study had traumatic wounds (38.5%), followed by surgical wounds (30.8%) and venous ulcers (15.4%). At the beginning of data collection, the average lesions that measured from 3.1 cm2 to 4.0 cm2. At 21 days, the average length was between 2.1 cm2 and 3.0 cm2 (P < 0.05). As to the amount of exudate and type of tissue, there was no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: It is possible to conclude that there was an improvement in the healing process of treated wounds, demonstrating that the use of the techniques described here accelerated tissue proliferation that positively affects the evolution of wound characteristics.
Keywords: 1. Wound Healing; 2. Chronic Wounds; 3. Treatment; 4. Growth Factor; 5. Low Intensity Laser.
