FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — More than 5.7 million Americans suffer from chronic wounds that won’t heal. Now a new, easy to use treatment some are calling a “magic powder” is helping patients heal much faster!
Plastic surgeon Tracey Stokes, MD, FACS, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon is used to being in the operating room, but not as a patient.
“I underwent bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction,” said Dr. Stokes.
Dr. Stokes made the decision after she and her mother tested positive for the gene that causes breast cancer. Unfortunately, she developed a wound on her left breast that would not heal.
“I think in today’s day and age wound care and wound care problems have almost become an epidemic,” said Laura Sudarsky, MD, FACS, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon & Wound Care Specialist at Esse Plastic Surgery.
Doctor stokes didn’t have to go far for help. Her partner Dr. Sudarsky was using a new product on her patients. Xcellistem wound powder by Stemsys is a FDA-approved biological agent that acts like a magnet.
“You put the powder on a wound and it will introduce stem cells into the wound and allow the wound to heal.” Said Dr. Sudarsky.
The powder is applied in the doctor’s office and the dressing is changed every two to three days.
“It’s very interesting because you watch the cells enter into the field and start healing,” said Dr. Sudarsky.
Xcellistem saved this diabetic patient’s foot from amputation.
“We’ve been able to use it under a skin graft or instead of a skin graft to promote wound healing,” Dr. Sudarsky explained.
Dr. Stokes couldn’t believe how quickly it worked for her!
“Within a matter of two to four weeks everything was completely healed,” said Dr. Stokes.
Saving her from having more surgery, so she could go back to doing what she really loves.
“I’m back in the operating room working, playing with my kids,” Dr. Stokes said.
Xcellistem uses your body’s own stem cells to accelerate healing. Right now, the wound powder is only approved for use in doctor’s offices and in the operating room. It can also be used on burn patients to minimize scarring and preserve range of motion.
Contributors to this news report include: Janna Ross, Field Producer; Judy Reich, Videographer; Cyndy McGrath, Supervising Producer; Hayley Hudson, Assistant Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: MAGIC POWDER HEALS WOUNDS NOTHING ELSE CAN
REPORT: MB #4513
BACKGROUND: According to figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic wounds – those injuries that have yet to heal after six weeks – affect some 5.7 million American adults. There are three main reasons wounds usually won’t heal. The first is poor circulation. When an injury occurs, it’s the blood that transports cells to the wound site, which then begins rebuilding veins and other important tissue structures. When you have poor circulation, the blood cannot move around as quickly, and as a result, wounds take that much longer to begin healing. The second is fluid buildup. An edema occurs when fluid leaks from blood vessels, causing these secretions to accumulate in any nearby tissue. Lastly is infection; some infections can extend the length of the inflammatory phase, and that can halt the subsequent stages of wound healing.
(Source: https://advancedtissue.com/2016/02/3-reasons-why-most-wounds-wont-heal/)
TREATMENT: When treating chronic wounds, doctors or nurses often remove dead or inflamed tissue. This is known as debridement. The tissue is removed using instruments such as tweezers, a sharp spoon-like instrument called a curette, or a scalpel. An enzyme-based gel is sometimes applied too, to help clean the wound. The wound can also be cleaned using a high-pressure water jet. Another form of debridement involves the use of a certain species of maggots (fly larvae) that are specially bred for medical purposes. The maggots are placed on the wound, either as they are or in a pouch. They remove dead tissue and fluid from the wound. Because debridement is often painful, a local anesthetic is used to numb the wound beforehand, for instance using an ointment.
(Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326436/)
XCELLISTEM: XCelliStem Wound Powder is distinguished from other tissue products in several ways. It is derived from two tissue sources instead of one, which allows for a more diverse mix of components. Other products are about 90 percent collagen, while this new biomaterial is 45 percent collagen, 25 percent elastin, 14 percent fibronectin, and 7 percent laminin. This is important because it provides a much more diverse mix of potential binding sites and signaling components. Multiple collagen types have been identified in the material including collagen types I, III, IV, and V. Hyaluronic acid, glycosaminoglycans, lipids, and growth factors also have been identified in the material. The growth factors investigated to date demonstrate the presence of fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and epidermal growth factor.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Danielle Fette, PR, Stemsys
954-663-0717
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
