A Prospective Study Using SupraSDRMÂ in Promoting Healing and Reducing the Time to Grafting of Full-Thickness Wounds to Accelerate Return to Duty
Abstract
Rationale: Major trauma frequently occurs in the deployed combat setting and is especially applicable in the recent conflicts with explosives dominating the combat wounded. In future near-peer conflicts, we will likely face even more profound weapons including radiation and explosive devices. As such, the number of severely wounded will likely increase. Wound coverage of exposed, deep structures is a problem without an adequate solution. Current solutions contribute further morbidity, have a high failure rate, and require technical expertise that are not often readily available. Alternative strategies using dermal substitutes are promising but are plagued by long delays between application and adequate vascularization and frequent infections. SupraSDRM promises to be a next-generation dermal substitute capable of more rapid formation of new vessels and a lower rate of infection. This project addresses the following topic area of the FY22 Combat Readiness- Medical Research Program (CRRP) for the Rapid development and Translational Research Award (RDTRA): Wound care solutions for complex trauma and tissue regeneration that span the operational medical care continuum or roles of care. Objectives: The main objective of this study is to demonstrate how SupraSDRM can achieve successful temporary coverage to deep complex wounds and lower the number of days required to definitive surgical intervention. Further, the study intends to evaluate whether SupraSDRM allows for better post-operative outcomes as compared to SoC, easy use by non-trained personnel, and can improve the quality of life for the battle-injured Service Members to achieve faster healing, preserve function, and facilitate rapid return to duty. Potential Benefit to Service Members and Public: This project has significant impact on the clinical care and treatment of wounded Service Members in prolonged field care. Results from this study will improve our treatment of patients with full-thickness wounds and burns in a situation when medical evacuation is not possible and health resources severely limited. Blast injuries are common combat injuries, and it is expected that, in future conflicts, this will remain unchanged or worsen. Current standard of care therapies fails to address the concept of wound care in the new combat environment. Use of the synthetic wound matrix SupraSDRM has potential in not only this regard, but also in lessening scarring, lowering infection rates, reducing workload, and decreasing pain. Our Service Members will benefit directly from this concept in wound management both in near-term and long-term outcomes. The future battlefields are expected to be far different from previous ones. As the DOD pivots from this counterinsurgency readiness of the past two decades to preparedness for future near peer/peer adversary conflict, the necessity for reconsideration of our approach to battlespace burn care has taken on heightened significance. The specter of potential conflict with world powers possessing emerging weapons such as non-nuclear strategic weapons (e.g., thermobaric weapons), directed energy weapons, such as laser and microwave weapons, and precision fires requires development of novel, disruptive technologies to allow for care of our combat burn injuries. Moreover, with the likelihood that future conflicts will be fought in dense urban environments which are prone to reflect blast and promote thermal and electrical injury, burns will be far more common in numbers and severity in the future than in past conflicts, requiring technologies for medics that provide superior outcomes but with simplified logistics. SupraSDRM’s characteristics make it so that it can be feasibly used near-field by non-trained personnel in future operational settings when evacuation may be delayed and a high number of injured casualties are expected, to treat and temporize wounds while minimizing untoward effects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 04, 2024
- Source ID
- HT94252310574
Entities
People
- Rodney K Chan
Organizations
- United States Army