Impact of Synthetic Extracellular Matrices in Combination Therapy with Amniotic Allografting in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Wounds: A Case Series

Synthetic extracellular matrices are artificial polymers that are elongated and deposited as a matrix of nanofibers which mimic the native extracellular matrix. RenovoDerm® Anthem™ Wound Matrix (Columbus, Ohio) is comprised of polyglycolic acid and poly (L-lactide-co-caprolactone) which degrade by hydrolysis into a-hydroxy and fatty acids, lowering the pH and promoting regenerative cellular activity including angiogenesis. Amniotic allografts contain growth factors, cytokines, amino acids, extracellular matrix proteins, and hyaluronic acid which are recognized as intrinsic to the wound healing process. Synthetic extracellular matrices alone or in combination with amnio allografts do not have large bodies of evidence which demonstrate their effectiveness in the treatment of wounds. Presently, no prior studies have been performed to assess what impact these therapies may have on wound healing when used concurrently. The aim of this investigation was to assess whether a synergistic effect is produced with combination therapy using synthetic extracellular matrix and amniotic allografting. In this article, we present four cases of diabetic foot ulcerations treated with combination therapy. An amniotic fluid allograft, and/or membrane amniotic allograft, was implanted with a synthetic extracellular matrix dressing over top of the graft(s) at weekly intervals. All wounds demonstrated a greater than 80% decrease in wound size within four applications and achieved more than 95% wound closure after six applications.