Amniotic Membrane Adjuncts and Clinical Applications in Wound Healing: A Review of the Literature

Introduction. Recent advances in the preservation and processing of amnion/chorion tissue have dramatically increased the bioavailability of these wound healing factors as well as the shelf life of their related tissue products, allowing for a surge in clinical use. Many studies, including basic science, clinical trials, and randomized controlled trials, have emerged examining the biologic properties of amnion/chorion membrane products and their efficacy in wound healing. Objective. A literature review was conducted regarding the safety and efficacy of amniotic membrane adjuncts. Methods. The PubMed and MEDLINE databases were queried and sorted based on clinical trials with publication dates ranging from 2013 to 2017. Only studies pertaining to human subjects were included for review. Results. Amnion/chorion membranes have been studied in the treatment of burns, diabetic foot ulcers, fistulas, ocular defects, and venous leg ulcers, among other wounds. Amnion/chorion allografts were found to be beneficial in the setting of difficult-to-heal fistulas and were effective in treating diabetic and venous ulcers when combined with standard therapy. Conclusions. Overall, clinical trials have demonstrated that patients treated with amniotic membrane products have increased rates of wound healing compared with the standard of care. Additional trials are needed to examine more amnion/chorion membrane products.