Ambulatory Treatment of Varicose Leg Ulcers with Fresh Placental Dressings

Introduction Permanent eradication of varicose leg ulcers through preventive measures or by surgical correction1of the underlying pathology is the ultimate therapeutic goal in this problem. Unfortunately, at present, the final answer does not exist, as evidenced by the number of patients in our clinic and elsewhere with the chronic leg-ulcer problem. Until a permanent, totally successful method of treatment is realized, the dressing of chronic leg ulcers will necessarily continue. The time required, the practicability, and the expense to obliterate these leg ulcers are of considerable importance to the patient and the physician. The use of fresh human placenta in the management of war wounds was recently suggested by Chippaux.2This group, with the French Expeditionary Forces, applied various types of placental grafts to compound fractures and other open necrotic infected wounds. They frequently found contaminated wounds were rendered sterile, necrotic processes were arrested, and open wounds