**2.1. Technical and clinical endpoints**

The end points of this study were the proportion of ulcers healed at 12 weeks and recurrence rates at 36 months. Secondary end‐points were time taken for full healing, percentage of reduction in the ulcer size at 12 weeks, methicillin‐resistant *Staphylococcus aureus* (MRSA) elimination, pain reduction, recurrence rates and Quality‐Adjusted Time Spent Without Symptoms of disease and Toxicity of treatment (Q‐TWiST).

### **2.2. Inclusion criteria**

Informed written consent was required from patient's aged ≥ 18 years.

The patients must be treated at a dedicated veins unit with C6,s in the Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, and Pathophysiological (CEAP) classification [44, 45]. The venous ulcer must have been present for more than 2 years, with no improvement over the past 12 months despite adequate treatment at the veins unit. The patients must also have a normal ankle‐brachial index (ABI) with a normal digital pressure.
