The Effects of Ultraviolet C Irradiation in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds: A Retrospective, Descriptive Study

Abstract

The objective of this single-center, retrospective, descriptive study was to evaluate the effect of UVC as an adjunct modality to standard wound care. Data from January 1, 2015, through August 30, 2015, from all patients receiving UVC treatment and wound etiology-appropriate standard care provided twice weekly at a wound care center and lymphedema clinic were extracted from the electronic health records. Demographic (age, gender) and clinical wound data (duration, type, initial and final dimensions, number of UVC treatments, time to healing, healed versus not healed, and adverse events) were extracted, deidentified, and analyzed using descriptive and chi-squared analysis and analysis of variance. Wound type categories with small sample sizes were combined for analysis. Among the 127 patients studied (64 women [50.4%], average age 69 ± 15.0 years; and 63 men [49.6 %], average age 61 ± 15.8 years; P = .03), 224 wounds received UVC treatment. Initial average wound area was 24.1 ± 121.8 cm², and the most common type of wound was venous (58, 25.9%), followed by neuropathic/diabetic foot ulcer and traumatic wounds (43 each, 19.2% each). Mean wound duration was 57.7 ± 63 days; overall average patient age was 64.8 ± 15.9 years. Average number of treatments of 11.9 ± 13.4, and average time to healing was 45.2 ± 44.4 days. A total of 127 patients with 161 wounds (71.9%) healed after an average of 45 (range 4-260) days, including 36 venous leg ulcers (62.1%) and 33 neuropathic wounds/diabetic foot ulcers (76.7%). No adverse events were recorded. UVC may be an effective adjuvant treatment modality when used with standard care in the treatment of chronic wounds. Prospective studies are needed to ascertain the effectiveness and efficacy of UVC in the treatment of chronic wounds.