Summary:
This prospective, randomized study by Thompson P, Hanson DS, Langemo D, and Anderson J compared the healing effectiveness of human amniotic allograft (HAA) combined with total contact casting (TCC) versus TCC with standard wound care in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). DFUs pose a significant risk of complications, making the identification of more effective treatments essential for patient outcomes.
Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of combining human amniotic allograft (HAA) with total contact casting (TCC) versus TCC with standard wound care in promoting healing of diabetic foot ulcers.
Study Design:
The study was a prospective, randomized trial conducted in a university-affiliated rural Midwestern wound care clinic. Thirteen adult patients with diabetic foot ulcers were randomized into two groups: Group A received TCC and HAA, and Group B received TCC and standard wound care. The study measured outcomes such as time to ulcer closure, recurrence rates, wound drainage, and participant satisfaction over a 90-day follow-up period.
Results:
Most participants (92.3%) achieved wound closure during the study. Group A, with a higher baseline hemoglobin A1c, had a slightly longer mean time to closure (29.5 days) compared to Group B (26.2 days). However, recurrence rates were notably lower in Group A (14.29%) than in Group B (83.33%). Although Group A had more wound drainage, both groups showed high satisfaction with TCC. The small sample size limited the statistical significance of these findings.
Conclusion:
While the differences were not statistically significant, there was a trend toward better healing outcomes with the use of HAA and TCC in treating diabetic foot ulcers. This suggests the potential effectiveness of HAA in improving healing outcomes and reducing recurrence rates, warranting further investigation in larger studies.
For more details, refer to the original article:
Thompson P, Hanson DS, Langemo D, Anderson J. Comparing Human Amniotic Allograft and Standard Wound Care When Using Total Contact Casting in the Treatment of Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2019;32(6):272-277.