Special segment: soft tissue matrices--Apligraf bilayered skin substitute to augment healing of chronic wounds in diabetic patients

Abstract

Chronic wounds are wounds that fail to heal or fail to progress to healing within an appropriate time frame. Standard wound care consists of debridement of all nonviable tissue, off-loading, and maintaining a moist environment, typically with saline-moistened gauze. Infection control, blood flow, and nutrition also play pivotal roles in wound healing. Bioengineered tissue, Apligraf, has been shown to be both efficacious and safe when used in chronic wounds. Apligraf delivers growth factors and cytokines to the wound environment to help complete closure and decrease healing time.