Wayne UNC Health Care Wound Healing and Hyberbaric Center Research Published in Journal, Wounds

Wounds, a peer-reviewed journal focusing on wound care and research, recently published research conducted by Dr. Dimitrios Lintzeris, Medical Director for our Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center. His research involved a series of topical application of a Purified Collagen Matrix with Polyhexamethylene Biguanide (PHMB) on nine patients with complex wounds.

“Six of the nine wounds completely healed in 10 weeks,” said Dr. Lintzeris. “The remaining wounds closed by an average of 61%. With the wounds that didn’t close, we saw a substantial improvement in the wound characteristics.”

The wound management materials Dr. Lintzeris and his team applied to patients is antimicrobial and derived from pig collagen. The product, applied to patients on a weekly basis, followed routine debridement and cleaning of the wound.

Dr. Lintzeris said the patients selected to participate in the study had wounds that didn’t respond to previous treatment. Complex wounds typically don’t progress through the normal phases of wound healing, often remaining in the inflammatory phase.

Our Wound Center was eligible to lead this study because of its volumes and history. “We get presented with new products here frequently,” said Dr. Lintzeris. After some discussion with the manufacturer of the purified collagen matrix, Dr. Lintzeris said the wound center decided to try the product.

This treatment is currently available at Wayne UNC Health Care Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center and in wound treatment centers throughout the country.

Meanwhile, the wound center is continuing to participate in research on the effectiveness of the treatment. A prospective study they’re working on, along with 20 other sites across the U.S., assesses the types of wounds for which the dressing can be most effective and its impact on patient quality of life.

This dressing is one of many advanced treatments available at our Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center, a center specially trained in treating non-healing wounds. Under the leadership of Dr. Lintzeris, a certified Wound Specialist, our center achieves an average healing rate of 90% for all wounds treated and an average healing time of 64 days.