(CS-043) The role of continuous Topical Oxygen Therapy (cTOT) as an adjunctive treatment in non-healing chronic wounds; A South African perspective

Liezl Naude, Sister – Managing Director, Wound Management, Eloquent Health and Wellness; Emma Woodmansey, Ph.D – Clinical Director, Natrox Wound Care

Introduction: The impact of cTOT as an adjunct to routine standard of care (SoC) was investigated in several patients with hard to heal wounds at a Wound Management Centre in Pretoria, South Africa

Methods: Patients with non-healing wounds of duration > 30 days were included and excluded if any active untreated infection or osteomyelitis were reported. Following informed consent, patient, wound and pain assessments (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) were performed.  The cTOT system was applied to the wound and covered with an appropriate secondary dressing.  Wound assessments/ dressing changes were performed weekly until healing was achieved.

Results: 14 patients received cTOT.  Two patients were lost to follow-up and one failed to return to clinic after eight weeks treatment, however data up to that point is included. Six wounds healed within a mean duration of 11.7 weeks. DFU texas grade 2B (patient 4) had the longest time to healing (17 weeks), whereas the fastest healing was seen in a venous ulcer reported to healing in just 6 weeks despite a duration of 7 months previous to cTOT. Mean area reduction across all 12 wounds was 78.6 %.  VAS pain score was shown to reduce in 5/6 wounds by 3.2 on average (2-4 range).

Discussion: cTOT proved a useful adjunct to help promote wound healing and reduce pain in these challenging wounds in South Africa highlighting the benefit that access to this therapy may bring to patients in the region with non-healing chronic wounds.