(CS-111) Case Study: Utilizing a Disinfection Technology to Assist in Healing Infected Residual Limb Wound

Xin Zhou, BS, MS – President, BLUEWAVE Technologies; Miles Clark, BS, JD – Chief Technology Officer, BLUEWAVE Technologies

Introduction:

Up to 73.8% of prosthesis users report skin problems on the residual limb, including skin irritation, redness, and itchiness along with severe odor, which is frequently associated with heating, sweating, and bacterial infection (1). These skin problems are considered a significant secondary health concern for prosthesis users (2).

Such problems are not limited to amputees. Patients who use lower extremity orthoses, particularly those with diabetes, are also vulnerable (3).

The ozone disinfection device* used is a vacuum infusion technology that utilizes high concentrations of ozone gas to kill microbes on both hard and soft surfaces.

This Case Report examines the use of the ozone disinfection device* to treat the prosthetic liner of an amputee who had an active bacterial infection on his residual limb. The aim is to assess the efficacy of the ozone disinfection device^* as a tool to assist in improving outcomes for high-risk patients suffering from recurrent or chronic infection by reducing bacterial load on their devices.

Methods:

Patient is a 76-year-old Caucasian male, bilateral transtibial amputee with type-II diabetes. Patient presented with an open bacterial infection diagnosed by his physician. The wound had been present for 6 months prior to intervention with the ozone disinfection device*. Antibiotics had been unsuccessful in healing the wound.

Results:

Immediately upon Patient’s presentation in clinic, Clinician used the ozone disinfection device* to treat the liners used on Patient’s infected residual limb. Simultaneous antibiotic treatment was also prescribed by the referring physician. Subsequent in-clinic treatments followed at 2-week intervals as wound-healing progress was assessed.
Significant improvement was observed at the first follow-up after the first treatment. Full wound healing was achieved in 6 weeks (after 3 treatments of the liner in the ozone disinfection device*), and no residual limb infection has recurred since.

Discussion:

The rapid improvement observed after the first treatment of Patient’s liner with the ozone disinfection device* indicates that the treatment had a significant beneficial impact on the wound-healing process.  
Further investigation is warranted to fully establish a causal relationship between use of the ozone disinfection device* and wound healing or infection-prevention.