Health technology assessment: use of carboxymethylcellulose 2% in treating leg ulcers/Avaliacao tecnologica em saude: uso da carboximetilcelulose a 2% no tratamento das ulceras de perna/Evaluacion de tecnologias en salud: uso de la carboximetilcelulosa al 2% en tratamiento de las ulceras de pierna

This therapeutic intervention study took the form of an uncontrolled clinical trial. It aimed to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of carboxymethylcellulose 2% in treating leg ulcers. A clinical evaluation instrument was applied to twenty volunteers at a university hospital in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro State, between January and October 2010. After ninety days of treatment, the results of group A (lesions larger than 15.5 sq.in.) showed 15% reduction in lesion area. In group B (wounds smaller than 15.5 sq.in.), healing was total in 33.3% of cases. The costs were proportional to ulcer area: larger areas entailed higher costs. When this product was compared with other gels on the Brazilian market, the carboxymethylcellulose 2% produced at the university was observed to yield significant cost reductions (p