The Promise of Topical Growth Factors in Healing Pressure Ulcers

Editorials21 October 2003The Promise of Topical Growth Factors in Healing Pressure UlcersDavid R. Thomas, MDDavid R. Thomas, MDFrom Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center; St. Louis, MO 63104.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-139-8-200310210-00013 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Pressure ulcers are serious complications of medical care, associated with increased mortality rates, higher comorbidity, and increased burden and cost of treatment (1). In 1997, among 265 acute care hospitals, the overall prevalence of pressure ulcers was 10.1% (range, 1.4% to 36.4%) (2). Up to 66% of orthopedic patients develop pressure ulcers of varying severity (3). Pressure ulcers are difficult to heal. Only 75% of stage 2 pressure ulcers and 17% of stage 3 or stage 4 pressure ulcers heal in 8 weeks (4). Up to 23% of stage 2 pressure ulcers and 48% of stage 4 pressure ulcers remain ...References1. Allman RM, Goode PS, Burst N, Bartolucci AA, Thomas DR. Pressure ulcers, hospital complications, and disease severity: impact on hospital costs and length of stay. Adv Wound Care. 1999;12:22-30. [PMID: 10326353] MedlineGoogle Scholar2. Barczak CA, Barnett RI, Childs EJ, Bosley LM. Fourth national pressure ulcer prevalence survey. Adv Wound Care. 1997;10:18-26. [PMID: 9306782] MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Versluysen M. How elderly patients with femoral fracture develop pressure sores in hospital. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1986;292:1311-3. [PMID: 3085827] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Ferrell BA, Osterweil D, Christenson P. A randomized trial of low-air-loss beds for treatment of pressure ulcers. JAMA. 1993;269:494-7. [PMID: 8338511] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Brandeis GH, Morris JN, Nash DJ, Lipsitz LA. The epidemiology and natural history of pressure ulcers in elderly nursing home residents. 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PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoTopical Treatment of Pressure Ulcers with Nerve Growth Factor Francesco Landi , Luigi Aloe , Andrea Russo , Matteo Cesari , Graziano Onder , Stefano Bonini , Pier Ugo Carbonin , and Roberto Bernabei Metrics Cited byTopical application of quercetin improves wound healing in pressure ulcer lesionsLocal Wound Treatment in Pressure Ulcer ManagementClinical Management of Pressure UlcersThe Prevention and Management of Pressure UlcersDiseases of the SkinIntermittent electrical stimulation redistributes pressure and promotes tissue oxygenation in loaded muscles of individuals with spinal cord injuryLettersThe prevention and management of pressure ulcersSkin Care Protocols for Pressure Ulcers and Incontinence in Long-Term CareOverview: Acute and Chronic WoundsPrevention and Treatment of Pressure UlcersPressure Ulcers and Wound Bed PreparationNew Tissue Repair Strategies 21 October 2003Volume 139, Issue 8Page: 694-695KeywordsClinical trialsFibroblastsGranulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factorGrowth factorsNerve growth factorNervesPolypeptidesPressure ulcersUlcersWound healing ePublished: 21 October 2003 Issue Published: 21 October 2003 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2003 by American College of Physicians. 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