Recurrence rate of diabetic neurotrophic foot ulcers healed using topical application of growth factors released from platelets

The purpose of this study was to determine the recurrence rate of diabetic neurotrophic foot ulcers that had healed in a treatment protocol using topically applied growth factors released from platelets. Thirty‐six patients with diabetic neurotrophic foot ulcers were entered into a randomized prospective double‐blind 20‐week trial of topically applied platelet growth factors or buffered saline dressings. Ulcers had been present for 15.5 months (mean, range 2 to 60 months). Sixteen patients (44%) healed and were followed up for as many as 30 months to determine the rate of ulcer recurrence. Eleven patients (68.8%) had ulcers that recurred, including 10 treated with platelet growth factors and one treated with buffered saline solution. These ulcers had been present for 20 months (range 5 to 60 months) before healing. Average time to ulcer recurrence was 2.2 months (range 0.25 to 7 months). Five ulcers (31.2%) remained healed, including four treated with platelet growth factors and one treated with buffered saline solution. These healed, nonrecurring ulcers had been present for 5 months (range 2 to 6 months) before healing. Average follow up was 25 months (range 24 to 30 months). Ulcers were more likely to recur if they had been present longer before healing. If patients were not compliant in wearing footwear to protect the healed ulcer, the ulcers were prone to early recurrence. These data indicate that ulcers healed by using growth factors in the form of a platelet growth factors did not have more durable skin over the ulcer and were prone to early ulcer recurrence.