The Future of Wound Care

Wounds, especially chronic wounds, represent a significant clinical, social, and economic challenge. A recent retrospective analysis of Medicare beneficiaries in the United States identified that about 8.2 million people had at least one type of wound, with surgical wounds and diabetic ulcers among the most common and expensive to treat. The study also found that Medicare expenditures related to wound care are far greater than previously recognized; estimates for acute and chronic wound treatments ranged from US$28.1 billion to $96.8 billion [1].