Healing for Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers using Cold Atmospheric Plasma

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate of efficacy and safety of cold atmospheric plasma to treatment and improvement the healing of chronic, non to foot ulcers.

Study Design: Quasi- experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the College of Medicine, Iraq from 1st July 2024 to 31st December 2024.

Methods: Diabetic foot ulcers represent a critical clinical challenge, often associated with considerable morbidity and mortality risks. Cold atmospheric plasma emerges as a pivotal advancement in therapeutic strategies within the medical field. This innovative approach offers a modern alternative for sterilization and wound treatment when compared to traditional methods. The study included four participants, with an average age of 63.26 years, all of whom experienced a mean healing delay of 17 months, with a range of 11 to 20 months, largely attributed to peripheral arterial disease affecting 50% of the subjects.

Result: There were 99% males who had diabetic foot lesions. 60% had associated peripheral arterial disease with a mean delay in healing of 19 months. The average ulcer healing time was 7.6 weeks. One patient's treatment was suspended after 5 weeks due to the state of alarm decreed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In no case were adverse effects related to the application of cold atmospheric plasma detected. Focusing on individuals suffering from diabetic foot ulcers who experienced delayed healing following cold atmospheric plasma treatment. The average duration for ulcer healing was recorded at 7.5 weeks, and notably, no adverse effects were observed in relation to the application of cold atmospheric plasma. These initial findings indicate that the use of cold atmospheric plasma for non-healing diabetic foot ulcers is both a safe and effective therapeutic option.

Conclusion: Cold atmospheric plasma represents a significant advancement in wound care, yielding promising results that underscore its efficacy demonstrated that healing occurs more rapidly with cold atmospheric plasma treatment compared to cases where it was not utilized.