Cold atmospheric plasma may improve healing of diabetic ulcers: JAMA

DFU is a common complication experienced by diabetes patients that require specialized treatment. In the previous smaller series of case reports, CAP has been associated with benefits in healing and wound infection. Yet, no study has been performed to compare the effect of CAP with standard care therapy for wound healing in diabetic foot ulcers.

Bernd Stratmann, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, and colleagues determined whether CAP application accelerates wound healing in diabetic foot ulcers compared with standard care therapy.

For the purpose, they conducted a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, patient-blinded clinical trial at 2 clinics with recruitment August 17, 2016, to April 20, 2019. The patients were scheduled to remain in follow-up until April 30, 2024. It included patients with diabetes and diabetic foot ulcers described using the combined Wagner-Armstrong classification of 1B or 2B (superficial or infected diabetic foot ulcers extending to the tendon). A patient could participate with 1 or more wounds in both groups in both intervention and control groups. Wounds were randomized separately, allowing a participant to be treated several times within the study following a 2 × 2 × 2 randomization strata considering sex, smoking status, and age (≤68 years and >68 years).