CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF A SEMIPERMEABLE POLYMERIC MEMBRANE DRESSING FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS

OBJECTIVE - To evaluate the utility of a semipermeable polymeric membr ane dressing for the treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers. RESEAR CH DESIGN AND METHODS - Nineteen subjects with either insulin-dependen t diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and foot ulcers were randomly assigned to the polymeric dressi ng or conventional wet-to-dry saline dressings. Subjects had foot ulce r site measurements performed every 3 weeks. The subjects using conven tional therapy were allowed to cross over to polymeric dressing after 2 months. RESULTS - At the end of 2 months, in the patients using the polymeric dressing, ulcer size was reduced to 35 +/- 16% of baseline. The patients on conventional therapy had an ulcer size of 105 +/- 28% of baseline (P < 0.03, polymeric vs. conventional). Patients initially treated with wet-to-dry saline were crossed over into the polymeric m embrane treatment and demonstrated a decrease to 35 +/- 11% of baselin e size (P < 0.02) after an additional 2 months. CONCLUSIONS - The semi permeable polymeric membrane dressing is a useful therapeutic option f or treating uncomplicated chronic diabetic foot ulcers.