Clinical Advantage of a Bioresorbable Silver Matrix on a Radiation Breast Wound

BACKGROUND – In January of 2020, a 65-year-old female patient presented with invasive lobular breast cancer and secondary ulceration of the right breast (ER/PR positive, HER-2 negative (FISH), Ki67 15%). In February, she was referred to wound care while undergoing palliative radiation. Her right breast wound measured 17.2 x 11.4 x 0.4 cm. She continued with conservative wound management with daily dressing changes. Dressing choices were limited related to daily radiation therapy. In March, after radiation therapy, the patient underwent a surgical debridement as it was decided that the patient was not a candidate for skin graft or rotational flap. As providers in wound care are aware, post-irradiated wounds and periwound tissue over a large surface area is notoriously difficult to treat and prone to infection.1 Consistently, this patient’s wound was stalled for 3 months. This study evaluates the efficacy of a novel bioresorbable polyelectrolyte microfilm matrix (Matrix)* impregnated with ionic and metallic silver in jump starting the healing of a stalled radiation breast wound that was initially treated with palliative care.

METHODS – Starting in July, the Matrix was applied as the contact layer weekly, for 5 weeks. Adjunct therapies included Adaptic touch and an ABD pad. From week 6, the patient continued conservative wound management and daily dressing changes. RESULTS – Excitingly, after 5 weeks of application of Matrix treatment the patient’s wound had decreased in size significantly by approximately 50%. Four months after Matrix application, the wound measured 4.2 x 3.4 x 0.1 a 98% reduction in wound surface area. Just as important, the matrix was well tolerated, and the wound did not become infected

CONCLUSIONS – As an adjunct wound healing therapy, the Matrix was able to expedite healing and shows promise in treating difficult-to-treat radiation chronic ulcers.