Overcoming Barriers to Wound Healing in a Neuropathic and Neuro-Ischaemic Diabetic Foot Cohort Using a Novel Bilayer Biodegradable Synthetic Matrix

Abstract

Diabetes-related foot ulceration presents an increasing risk of lower limb amputation globally, driving the search for new treatment technologies. Our single-centre prospective observational study reports on the impact of bilayer biodegradable synthetic matrix technology (NovoSorb® BTM) on the healing and amputation rates of a diabetic foot ulceration cohort. Consecutive patients with a diabetes-related foot ulceration treated with NovoSorb BTM, between December 2019 and October 2021, were followed for 12 months. Complete wound healing and amputation outcomes were observed. Amputation risk was stratified using the Wound, Ischaemia and foot Infection (WIfI) classification system. Study outcomes were compared with recently published meta-analysis data to evaluate the impact of the synthetic matrix. In total, 25 NovoSorb BTM applications to 23 wounds in 22 patients were observed. Complete wound healing was observed in 15 of the wounds, 3 retained chronic wounds, 3 required minor amputation and 2 required major limb amputation. Further, 12-month WIfI amputation risk analysis saw 18 patients stratified to WIfI stage 4, 4 to WIfI stage 3 and 1 to WIfI stage 1. Our observed 12-month major amputation rates were 11.1% (n = 2) for stage 4 and 0% for stages 3 and 1. Our early experience suggests that NovoSorb BTM is a safe and effective treatment for moderate to severe diabetes-related foot ulceration. While larger-scale data are required, NovoSorb BTM may represent a promising new addition to the armamentarium of clinicians, who strive to achieve limb salvage in this complex cohort of patients.