Israeli Study Shows Breakthrough Treatment for Severe Scalp Wounds Using Blood Clots
A new Israeli medical study shows that using a blood clot derived from the patient's body successfully closed severe exposed skull wounds in 10 out of 11 elderly patients.
A new clinical study conducted at the Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson) and the Shamir Medical Center demonstrates a novel treatment for severe scalp wounds using a blood clot derived from the patient's own body. According to the study results, complete wound closure was achieved in 10 out of 11 patients.
Scalp wounds where the skull bone remains exposed are considered a complex challenge in plastic and reconstructive surgery. They can occur following tumor removals, radiation therapies, or trauma, and due to a lack of suitable tissue and blood supply, standard skin grafts do not always succeed.
Innovative Biological Scaffold
The treatment evaluated in the study is based on the ActiGraft technology developed by the Israeli biomedical company RedDress. As part of the procedure, a blood sample of approximately 18 ml is taken from the patient, and a clot is formed within minutes, which is placed directly onto the wound.
"Exposed skull bone is a significant healing challenge, especially among elderly and oncological patients who have already undergone previous treatments," said Dr. Yehiel Hayun, one of the study's lead researchers.
The clot acts as a biological scaffold containing natural blood components designed to assist in the growth of blood vessels and new tissue over the exposed bone, enabling the wound to close without extensive reconstructive surgery.
Promising Clinical Results
The study included 11 patients—five men and six women—with an average age of about 79, who suffered from chronic scalp wounds following tumor resections where previous treatments failed to bring healing.
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Complete wound closure was achieved in 10 out of 11 patients (90.9%).
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Patients underwent an average of 4.8 treatments.
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Tissue growth over the bone was observed within 4 to 6 weeks, with full closure achieved in 12 to 16 weeks.
Following these results, the treatment has begun to be implemented in community wound clinics of Clalit Health Services, offering hope to additional patients suffering from complex chronic wounds.
