PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., April 27, 2021 – A Las Vegas, N.V., woman facing a below-the-knee amputation healed with the help of an innovative product being used by a local wound care physician.
Mhel, 67, suffered from an aggressive form of gangrene on her toe that – after unsuccessful treatment – required a partial-foot- amputation. Even with the amputation, the infection continued to spread, and Mhel risked losing not only her entire foot but most of her leg below the knee.
“When I was told, I was possibly going to lose my leg; it was my worst fear. I had a hard time coming to terms with it,” Mhel recalled.
Dr. Naz Wahab of Wound Care Experts, Las Vegas, N.V. has been successfully treating chronic, non-healing wounds with ActiGraft®, a cutting-edge product of RedDress. The wound care solution recreates the natural healing processes of the body utilizing the patient’s own blood.
Mhel underwent several painful treatments to salvage her foot without success. Dr. Wahab recommended ActiGraft, a new treatment option that uses a patient’s own blood to create an autologous blood clot tissue that is applied topically to support the healing of cutaneous wounds.
“Mhel’s non-healing wound was difficult to treat because of comorbid problems she had. All of these things led to a difficult healing process. It was important we tried something to stop the progression of completely losing her leg,” Dr. Wahab stated.
The Amputee Coalition of America estimates that there are nearly two million people living with limb loss in the United States, and more than 28 million are at risk of amputation surgery. The primary causes of limb loss are vascular disease (fifty-four percent) – which includes diabetes and peripheral arterial disease – trauma (forty-five percent) and cancer (less than two percent). The survival rates following an amputation depend on a variety of factors. For instance, those who undergo amputations due to trauma tend to have low mortality rates, however, nearly fifty percent of patients who lose a limb due to dysvascular disease will die within five years. Because of the high mortality risk in patients with comorbid conditions, limb salvage is crucial.
Mhel battled with her wound for months, but after eight weeks and one application of ActiGraft, her wound reduced by eighty percent. Because of her healing progress, Mhel was no longer a candidate for a below-the-knee amputation – ActiGraft helped save her from losing her leg.
“In my experience, ActiGraft delivered impressive results for my patients. We were truly about to heal some of the most difficult wounds in a notable amount of time,” said Dr. Wahab.
“We’re so grateful that Dr. Wahab chose her – that she was chosen to do that kind of procedure,” said Mhel’s sister and primary caretaker.
Treatment options for non-healing wounds are expensive. The Amputee Coalition of America states that procedures, such as below-the-knee amputations, costs Medicare an average of $81,051 per person. This is not an accessible form of treatment for many patients. Mhel had already spent thousands of dollars on previous wound care treatments. ActiGraft steps in and provides patients with an alternative, affordable solution.
“The introduction of ActiGraft will change the lives of millions across the U.S. suffering from chronic, non-healing wounds,” said Alon Kushnir CEO of RedDress. “We exist to help healthcare professionals heal the wounded by making a more effective, more affordable, and more comfortable product. We hope to offer those at risk of limb loss – a second chance.”
About ActiGraft®
ActiGraft, based on RedDress’ proprietary patented technology, is an FDA-cleared wound care solution that enables health care providers to produce – in real-time – in vitro blood clot tissue from a patient’s whole blood. Once applied, the blood clot tissue serves as a protective covering and supports wound healing processes which naturally occur in the patient’s body.
ActiGraft is intended for exuding cutaneous wound types. The ActiGraft Kit includes blood-contacting components that have been sterilized by Ethylene Oxide, which may cause serious allergic reactions in patients that are sensitized. For full safety and prescribing information, visit www.reddressmedical.com/safety-info.
About RedDress®
RedDress (www.reddressmedical.com) is a privately held, Israel-based company with a U.S. subsidiary, RedDress Inc., located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Founded in 2009 with the goal of developing more effective, natural, and economically viable treatments for chronic wounds, RedDress is committed to improving the health and lives of patients around the world with its latest innovation – ActiGraft.
Press and Media Inquiries:
Alessandra Lalli, RedDress
alalli@reddressmedical.com
Investor Inquiries:
Russ Lalli, RedDress
rlalli@reddressmedical.com