Novel Use of Insulin in Continuous-Instillation Negative Pressure Wound Therapy as “Wound Chemotherapy”

Scimeca, Christy L. D.P.M.
Bharara, Manish Ph.D.
Fisher, Timothy K. D.P.M.
Kimbriel, Heather B.S.
Mills, Joseph L. M.D.
Armstrong, David G. D.P.M., M.D., Ph.D.

Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA), College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

Corresponding Author: David G. Armstrong, D.P.M., M.D., Ph.D., Southern Arizona Limb Salvage Alliance (SALSA), Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85724; email address [email protected]

Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology 4(4):p 820-824, July 2010. | DOI: 10.1177/193229681000400408

Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is frequently employed in the treatment of complex wounds. A variety of wound chemotherapeutic agents such as insulin, which acts as a growth factor, may prove helpful in treatment as well. We present a case report in which insulin was used as a chemotherapeutic agent in continuous-instillation NPWT. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature describing this method of delivery.