Human placental membrane as a wound cover for chronic diabetic foot ulcers: a prospective, postmarket, CLOSURE study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a chorioamniotic allograft, used as a wound cover for chronic foot ulcers, in patients with diabetes.

METHODS: A multicentre, prospective, postmarket study where eligible patients received up to 11 weekly wound cover applications. Computerised planimetry was used to calculate the diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) area each week. The primary endpoint of the study was wound closure assessment. Secondary endpoints included DFU recurrence and morbidity.

RESULTS: A total of 63 patients with 64 ulcers were enrolled, after successful completion of a two-week run-in period. Patients were predominantly male and had risk factors for delayed healing. Mean baseline DFU area was 3.8cm2 (standard deviation (SD): 4.8). After 12 weeks, a total of 19 (40%) DFUs had closed. Results varied by size category, 'small' (≤2.0cm2 ), 'medium' (>2.0-4.0 cm2 ), and 'large' (>4.0-25.0 cm2 ), with higher percentage closure in the 'small' DFU group, compared with the 'medium' and 'large' DFUs (57%, 33%, and 10%, respectively). Of those DFUs that closed, the average closure time was 6.5 weeks. There were no unanticipated adverse events.

CONCLUSION: Known risk factors for healing, including DFU size, location and duration, affected the outcomes. However, the results are in line with the literature and support the use of the chorioamniotic allograft in chronic and complex cases.