Wounds UK publishes consensus around IPC for treating venous leg ulcers – concluding positive results for WoundExpress™
Treating venous leg ulcers is a significant and costly challenge for healthcare. Now 8 experienced UK clinicians collaborate to form a consensus paper, published by Wounds UK, stating that the use of IPC solutions, in particular Arjo’s WoundExpress, can improve both clinical and financial outcomes.
Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are a common problem implying significant costs for healthcare. The number of wounds that required management in the UK in 2012/13 was estimated to 2.2 million1, with 40% located on the lower limb or foot - excluding pressure ulcers developed at the heel. Analyses of large datasets2 suggest the average cost of lower leg wound treatment per patient and year falls around £7,600 to £7,800. The primary cost driver was the number of visits community nurses made to patients.
For a long time, the standard local treatment of venous leg ulcers has been the application of sustained, mechanical compression, using bandages and hosiery. However, studies show that up to 80% of patients fail to comply with the treatment due to challenges related to bandage changing, applying and removing hosiery, pain, wound exudate leakage, skin irritation and discomfort.
Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) offers several clinical benefits
In the paper “The benefits of intermittent pneumatic compression and how to use WoundExpress in practice” published in Wounds UK, a cohort of experienced UK clinicians finds consensus around IPC as a promising intervention for improving lower leg wound management. Specific emphasis is made upon the use of IPC applied solely to the thigh with no direct contact with the wound or its surrounding skin, representing the functionality of WoundExpress.
Initial studies3 have shown that WoundExpress has a positive impact on both arterial and venous blood flow in the lower limb, with positive clinical benefits including reductions in wound size and, importantly, in reducing pain. WoundExpress is ideally suited for use at home, minimizing disruptions to the patient’s lifestyle and daily activities. The accelerated wound healing also results in fewer bandage changes, thereby reducing nursing time substantially, with significant cost benefits for care providers.
“With our ground breaking patented therapy, WoundExpress, we place ourselves at the forefront of wound therapy technology and strengthen our solid portfolio. We see major potential for this solution and are committed to supporting healthcare providers in improving both clinical and financial outcomes – while reducing unnecessary suffering among millions of patients,” says Joacim Lindoff, CEO and President at Arjo.
User-friendly technology improves healing rates and well-being
“In wound care clinical practice, we need new initiatives to improve leg ulcer healing rates and reduce the impact they have on an individual’s wellbeing. The early evidence to support WoundExpress gives great promise in that it can achieve both targets, especially in relation to pain reduction. It is a technology that is user-friendly, so this is a really exciting development”, says Trudie Young, Chair of the Consensus Group.
The next step is now to complete ongoing studies to obtain greater understanding of the range of effects WoundExpress may have, that would contribute to improving the management of several wound types commonly found on the lower limb.
The consensus paper is now available on Wounds UK; https://www.wounds-uk.com/resources/details/the-benefits-of-intermittent-pneumatic-compression-and-how-to-use-woundexpress-in-practice
1 Guest et al, (2015)
2 Guest et al (2018a; 2018b) and Phillips et al (2020)
3 Morris et al (2020) and Naik et al (2020) and Kettley and Turner-Dobbin (2020)
About WoundExpress
Arjo’s WoundExpress is an Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) system to manage lower leg wounds with a garment applied on the patient’s thigh, uniquely placed away from the wound site to avoid painful pressure while increasing blood flow to the leg ulcer.
In 2020, Arjo published results from a highly successful multi-centre clinical evaluation, and a randomized controlled trial for wound care treatment is currently ongoing.
To date, WoundExpress has been introduced to the market in UK, Ireland, Sweden and Denmark – with very positive response. Commercialization plans are currently under development for major markets like the US and Western Europe.
Read more about WoundExpress here: https://www.woundexpress.com/
About Arjo
At Arjo, we believe that empowering movement within healthcare environments is essential to quality care. Our products and solutions are designed to promote a safe and dignified experience through patient handling, medical beds, personal hygiene, disinfection, diagnostics, and the prevention of pressure injuries and venous thromboembolism. With over 6,000 people worldwide and 60 years caring for patients and healthcare professionals, we are committed to driving healthier outcomes for people facing mobility challenges. www.arjo.com
For further information, please contact:
Kornelia Rasmussen, EVP Marketing Communications & Public Relations
Tel: +46(0)10 335 4810
Email: kornelia.rasmussen@arjo.com
Maria Nilsson, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Tel: +46 (0)10 335 4866
Email: maria.nilsson@arjo.com