Clinical Trial: Efficacy Study of the Application of Low Level Laser Light to Treat Venous Stasis Ulcers

Study Status: Terminated
Recruit Status: Terminated
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Evaluation of the Effect of the Erchonia ML Scanner (MLS) on Venous Stasis Ulcers

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether low level laser light therapy is effective as an adjunctive therapy to the healing of venous stasis leg ulcers.

Detailed Summary:

A chronic venous stasis leg ulcer is a wound below the knee that fails to heal within 6 weeks. Venous stasis ulcers account for 80% to 90% of all leg and foot ulcers, affecting an estimated 500,000-600,000 people in the United States every year. Venous stasis ulcers account for the loss of 2 million working days and incur treatment costs around $3 billion dollars annually in the United States. Standard of care for venous stasis ulcers includes compression of the affected leg together with daily dressing changes to minimize swelling; debridement of the ulcer to remove dead tissue and bacteria; and daily wound Care dressing to keep the wound clean. Venous stasis ulcers typically have very lengthy and poor healing rates, with up to 50% remaining open and unhealed for 9 months or longer. Many patients suffer pain and sleep and mobility problems, impairing quality of life. Recurrence rates for venous stasis ulcers is very high, with about one third of treated individuals experiencing 4 or more episodes of ulceration.

Low level laser light therapy (LLLT), with its proven tissue healing acceleration properties has recently gained attention as a simple, non-invasive alternative adjunctive therapy to assist in both wound closure and accelerated time to wound closure. Numerous histological trials have exhibited laser therapy's capacity to upregulate essential wound-healing factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), oxygen concentration, fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, re-epithelialization, and tissue granulation. Clinically, the application of laser therapy has demonstrated promise, accelerating the rate of wound healing and tissue contracture.


Sponsor: Erchonia Corporation

Current Primary Outcome: Difference in the Proportion of Venous Stasis Ulcers Attaining Complete Wound Closure Between Treatment Groups [ Time Frame: Baseline and 12 Weeks ]

'Complete wound closure' is defined as skin re-epithelialization without drainage or dressing requirements confirmed across a consecutive two-week evaluation period. Efficacy success was defined as a statistically significant greater proportion of venous stasis ulcers in the test procedure group achieving complete wound closure compared with the proportion of venous stasis ulcers in the placebo procedure group achieving complete wound closure.


Original Primary Outcome: The number of venous stasis ulcers that achieve complete wound closure within the 12-week treatment period. [ Time Frame: Baseline and 12 Weeks ]

'Complete wound closure' is defined as skin re-epithelialization without drainage or dressing requirements confirmed across a consecutive two-week evaluation period. Incidence of complete wound closure will be evaluated for venous stasis ulcers in the test versus placebo subject groups. Efficacy success is defined as a statistically significant greater proportion of venous stasis ulcers in the test procedure group achieving complete wound closure compared with the proportion of venous stasis ulcers in the placebo procedure group achieving complete wound closure.


Current Secondary Outcome: Change in Ulcer Size [ Time Frame: Baseline and 12 Weeks ]

The study ulcer was digitally photographed, and the ulcer size/area calculated in centimeters squared (cm²) using the Aranz Medical SilhouetteMobile™ System, a portable handheld computer device with custom camera and software that enables capturing of a wound image at the point of care. The change in ulcer size from baseline to study endpoint (12 weeks) was calculated. A decrease in ulcer size indicates an improvement in the ulcer status and is positive for study success. An increase in ulcer size indicates a worsening of the ulcer status and is negative for study success.


Original Secondary Outcome: Time to complete wound closure for venous stasis ulcers. [ Time Frame: baseline and 12 weeks ]

'Complete wound closure' is defined as skin re-epithelialization without drainage or dressing requirements confirmed across a consecutive two-week evaluation period. Time to complete wound closure will be evaluated for venous stasis ulcers in the test versus placebo subject groups.


Information By: Erchonia Corporation

Dates:
Date Received: June 16, 2011
Date Started: June 2011
Date Completion:
Last Updated: November 7, 2015
Last Verified: November 2015