Abstract
Background Managing diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is challenging due to poor blood supply, which leads to chronic wounds, increased susceptibility to infections, ischemia, and necrosis. The compromised quality of surrounding tissues, combined with complex underlying conditions and weakened immune systems, often hinders proper wound healing. Fish skin acellular dermal matrix (ADM) has emerged as an effective treatment option to promote healing in such wounds. Objective This study is the first to explore the use of fish skin ADM combined with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for treating DFUs in the Asian population. The aim is to demonstrate the efficacy and effectiveness of this combined treatment approach. Methods Six patients with DFUs who visited the vascular surgery department between November 2022 and June 2023 were included in the study. Their wounds were treated with Kerecis(®) Omega3 Wound dressing for definitive closure, while NPWT was applied as an adjunct therapy to enhance graft uptake when suitable. Results The average initial wound size was 34.30 cm², with a complete healing rate of 100% achieved over an average of 19 weeks using Kerecis(®) Omega3 Wound dressing and adjunct NPWT. By the 12-week mark, the average reduction in wound size was 80.50%. Conclusions Fish skin ADM offers a biocompatible and sustainable solution for improving wound healing in difficult-to-treat DFUs. The addition of NPWT appears to enhance graft uptake, shorten the time to complete wound closure, and lower the risk of infections commonly associated with chronic diabetic foot wounds.