Comparative study of Four Layer Compression Bandaging and Topical Human Epidermal Growth Factor in Chronic Venous Leg Ulcer

Abstract

Background: Leg ulcers are defined to be loss of epidermal and dermal tissues of leg or foot. Approximately 1% of the population suffer from a leg ulcer at some stage during their lives. Venous leg ulcers are consequence of chronic venous insufficiency. Aims and Objectives:The aim of the study is to compare the healing rate and area of healing in chronic venous ulcer with the topical use of Human epidermal growth factor (H-EGF) along with regular four layer compression bandaging as versus four layer compression bandaging alone. Materials And Methods:A Prospective, open label, randomized, comparative, hospital based, single centered study was conducted among 90 subjects attending General surgery OPD, K.R. Hospital attached to Mysore Medical College And Research Institute, Mysore meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria over a period of 24 months from January 2016 to December 2017. All diagnosed cases of chronic venous ulcer were included for the study. Venous ulcers subjects with arterial insufficiency(ABPI < 0.8) and all other causes of chronic ulcers such as diabetes, trophic, arterial ulcers were excluded from the study. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and Student-t-test were used to analyse the results. Results:The mean age group of the study subjects was 51.43+7.436 years in H-EGF group and 54.86+10.341 years in four layered dressing group. The gender distribution showed 86(95.56%) males as compared to 4(4.44%) females. Culture shows E.Coli in 7(15.56%) and 5(11.11%) subjects in H-EGF group and four layer dressing group respectively. 3(6.67%) and 1(2.22%) subjects had there culture positive for streptococcus in H-EGF group and four layer dressing group respectively. The H-EGF dressing group was very effective as there was faster ulcer healing when compared to regular four layered dressing. Conclusion:Topical H-EGF along with four layer dressing can be used in chronic venous leg ulcer, as it significantly hastens healing time than the conventional four layer bandaging technique alone.

Use of Intralesional and Perilesional Human Recombinant Epidermal Growth Factor (hrEGF) in the Local Treatment of Venous Ulcer – Review Article – Expert Recommendation

“…No side effects caused by hEGF were observed. 31 Esquirol et al, 2019, evaluated EGF in 77 patients with different vascular type ulcers (venous, arterial, and diabetic foot type), other surgical wounds, trauma, burns, and scars. The most frequent pathologies were type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic venous insufficiency.…”