Does Bilayered Extracellular Matrix Technology Hasten Wound Healing in Venous Stasis Ulcers?
C hronic lower-extremity ulcers are estimated to affect approximately 2.5 million to 4.5 million people in the United States.1 This vast clinical problem is seen mostly in the elderly, the fastest growing segment of the US population. Unhealed ulcers cause substantial disability, morbidity, and long-term care costs. In the US, the estimated annual cost of ulcer treatment may be between $1.9 billion and $2.5 billion. These costs include frequent visits to physicians, care provided by visiting nurses, and often hospital admission for the treatment of accompanying cellulitis.2,3 The clinical management of venous ulcers is debatable; however, a better understanding of the physiology has led to development of new treatment modalities. The main therapy has been compression bandages, surgical correction of venous hypertension, or conventional skin grafting techniques. These procedures are costly and require hospitalizations. Frequently, the wound healing associated with these procedures is on
