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Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Prospective, Randomized, and Controlled Study of a Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection for Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Published on: March 3, 2023
An Innovative Treatment Using sterile Hyaluronic Acid Injections to Reduce Foot Ulcer Recurrence in Patients with
Catherine Hughes1,2, Nikolaos Papanas3, Cynthia Formosa4
1Curacorn Ltd, Ashton in Makerfield, Greater Manchester, UK.
Abstract:
To evaluate whether plantar injection of hyaluronic acid using the Curacorn® technique can reduce ulcer recurrence in high-risk patients with diabetes. This pilot study included 14 patients with type 2 diabetes and a history of recurrent healed neuropathic or Charcot-related plantar foot ulcers. All ulcers were healed for at least 4 weeks prior to inclusion. Patients underwent 3-4 treatment sessions using a sterile, cross-linked hyaluronic acid gel implanted beneath previous ulcer sites. They were followed for 6-12 months to assess ulcer recurrence. Seven patients (50%) experienced no ulcer recurrence during the follow-up period of the study. Patients without recurrence received a higher total volume of hyaluronic acid when compared with those who experienced recurrence (mean 7.4 ml vs 3.9 ml). Ulcer recurrence in the remaining patients occurred after an initial ulcer-free period of approximately six months. In this pilot cohort, hyaluronic acid injection using the Curacorn® technique was associated with a reduction in ulcer recurrence, particularly when adequate gel volumes were administered. These findings support further investigation of this minimally invasive approach as a preventive strategy in high-risk diabetic foot patients.
