Treatment of venous ulcers with human skin equivalent

Abstract

In the author's clinical experience in rating venous ulcers, human skin equivalent has been efficacious, safe, cost-effective, and easy to use. This innovation is likely to become an important therapeutic tool for podiatric physicians who treat venous ulcers. Leg ulcers are a large economic burden to society, both in direct and total costs, including patient time lost from work for labor- and time-intensive therapies. The cost-containing measures of the managed care environment encourage treatment of venous ulcers in an outpatient center. Because human skin equivalent can be applied in such a setting, podiatric physicians will be able to treat venous ulcers routinely without referring patients to more costly settings such as hospitals or surgical centers. Because human skin equivalent is an effective alternative to standard venous ulcer therapies, this agent, which is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration, should provide a viable treatment that may reduce the total costs associated with venous ulcer care.