scholarly journals A Rare Form of Melanoma Masquerading as a Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Case Report

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Susan Thomas ◽  
Yuan-Xiang Meng ◽  
Vijaykumar G. Patel ◽  
Gregory Strayhorn

Background. Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a less-common form of melanoma in US, and it accounts for about 5% of all diagnosed melanomas in US. ALM is often overlooked until it is well advanced because of the lesion’s location and its atypical appearance in the early stages. We present a case of ALM initially presented as a diabetic foot ulcer.Case Report. An 81-year-old man initially presented to the primary care clinic with a right foot diabetic ulcer. There was a large plantar, dark-colored ulcer that bled easy. Initial excision biopsy revealed Clark’s Level IV ALM. Subsequent definitive wide excision and sentinel node biopsy confirmed ALM with metastasis to inguinal lymph nodes (stage IIIb). The treatment included wide margin excision of the lesion with en bloc amputations of 4th and 5th toes, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.Discussion. The development of ALM may potentially relate to diabetes as a reported higher prevalence of diabetes with ALM patients.Conclusion. The difficulty in early diagnosing of ALM remains as a formidable challenge particularly in diabetic patients who commonly develop plantar foot ulcers due to the diabetic neuropathy. This case reiterates the importance of a thorough foot exam in such patients.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 3553
Author(s):  
Bharti Saraswat ◽  
Kapil Kumar Gill ◽  
Ashok Yadav ◽  
Krishan Kumar

Background: A number of scoring systems and classifications are available for diabetic foot ulcers with intention to compare the treatment modalities and future outcomes. Many of them are complex and don’t predict future outcome within the patients. Aim and objectives of current study were to establish a wound-based clinical scoring systems (DUSS) as daily clinical practice by assessing the efficacy of diabetic ulcer severity score.Methods: A total of 73 diabetic patients with foot ulcers were included in this prospective observational study conducted at Dr. S.N. Medical college, Jodhpur and attached hospitals from July 2018 to August 2020. Ulcers were assessed and DUSS score created. Patients were followed up for six months or until healing or amputation if either.Results: In this prospective study of 73 patients with diabetic foot ulcers, most common age group affected was between 51-70 years. Mean age group was 58.57±12.66 years. Mean duration of diabetes was 7.61±5.72 years. Most commonly ulcers were of DUSS score 2. Mean DUSS score was 1.97±1.15. Majority of diabetic foot ulcer patients (37 out of 51) with DUSS score 0, 1 and 2 healed by primary intention after wound debridement. Those with score 3 & 4 majority of them (20 out of 22) had amputation.Conclusions: This is a very simple scoring system that provides an easily accessible and a streamlined approach in the clinical setting without need of any advanced investigative equipment. Hence this can be applied in any set up.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-227
Author(s):  
Risma Anggraeni Yuliastuti ◽  
Megah Andriany ◽  
Eka Putri Y.

The highest diabetic complication percentage is neuropathy (54%) causing diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). The study aimed to know the relationship between diabetic foot ulcer risk levels with diabetic ulcer severity levels. Scope of the study was diabetic wound care, particularly on legs mostly experienced by diabetic patients. The method used was descriptive correlation with cross sectional design. Sampling method was non probability with purposive sampling. Respondent number was 16 persons with inclusion criteria was diabetic patients with ulcer in one leg and no ulcer on another side in the second visitation to a diabetic clinic in Bekasi,Indonesia and agreed to be involved in the study. DFU risk level instrument modified from Diabetes Foot Screening and Risk Stratification Form of New Zealand Society for Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) to measure the DFU degree on legs with no ulcer. Another tool was to measure severity level of legs with ulcer according to Wagner. Data analysis used Kendall’s tau with 0.05 of significance level. The result shows there is no relationship between DFU risk levels with severity degree of diabetic ulcers. From the study, we can conclude that nurses do not need provide specific DFU prevention based on diabetic ulcer severity grade. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 88
Author(s):  
Ashokkumar D. ◽  
Vinothkumar S. ◽  
Heber Anandan

Background: Foot ulcers are the principal cause of severe complications and hospitalization among patients with diabetes, substantially increasing the costs with this disease. Peripheral neuropathy, ulceration, infection, and peripheral vascular disease are the principal factors for ulcer complications and loss of a lower limb in diabetic patients. The aim of the present endeavor was to study the patients undergoing amputation for the diabetic foot ulcer.Methods: Total 150 patients with diabetic foot ulcer were included in this study. The variables investigated were related to diabetes, infection, and surgical treatment. In our series amputation were done at different levels anatomical levels ranging from toe level ranging from toe level to above knee amputation.Results: Pus culture and sensitivity done for diabetic foot ulcers reveal E. coil as the most common organism (40%). Skin biopsy done in these patients reveal neuropathic changes in 102 patients. 40% of patients had vaso-occlusive disease. Nine out of 150 patients showed osteomyelitis changes emphasizing those diabetic ulcer patients are prone for osteomyelitis of the underlying bone. 46% of patients with diabetic foot ulcer needed either minor or major amputation, which correlates with the standard study.Conclusions: Lack of awareness about diabetes mellitus and its lower limb complications, poor compliance to the treatment, poorly controlled blood sugar levels, delay in diagnosis, and late presentation to the tertiary care center are all factors which led to the occurrence of diabetic foot ulcer.


2021 ◽  
pp. 19-22
Author(s):  
Vijay kumar Siddalingappa ◽  
Mohan kumar Kariyappa ◽  
Subhashish Das

90 patients with diabetic foot ulcer admitted in Department of General Surgery R. L. JALAPPA HOSPITAL, TAMAKA, KOLAR, in between the study period of December 2017 to June 2019. The study is estimated to include diabetic foot ulcer patients satisfying inclusion criteria who are admitted in surgical wards of RLJH and RC. A complete detailed history, as per standard proforma will be obtained and documented. All patients will undergo clinical examination with relevant investigations after obtaining an informed consent. Patients are divided into 2 groups using even-odd method to include similar type of cases in both groups, where even group is study group and odd group is control group. RESULTS: Predisposition of diabetic foot ulcer was common among males than in females, More number of diabetic patients presented with diabetic foot ulcer arising from trauma than those occurring spontaneously. The spontaneous onset ulcers healed better with PRP than those arising due to traumatic onset. The ulcers on dorsal aspect heal faster than on plantar aspect, PRP dressing improved the rate of healing in lower Wagner grade ulcer than in higher grade ulcer, Patients who were on insulin alone showed better healing than those on OHA. Over all PRP dressing group showed higher rate of ulcer size reduction than those on saline dressing. CONCLUSION: The diabetic ulcer in the study group treated with PRP dressing contracted in wound size more than in the control group. This indicates that PRP dressing is an effective method to facilitate wound contraction in diabetic patients with foot ulcer. PRP dressing is found to be more effective, cost efcient and safe promoter of ulcer wound healing and can be used as an adjunct to saline dressings for enhanced healing of diabetic wounds.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 4031
Author(s):  
Hanumanthaiah C. S. ◽  
V. Sharath Kumar ◽  
Suhas N. Gowda

Background: India has the dubious distinction of becoming the diabetic capital of the world within the next few years; with its attendant complications it is going to burden the resources of the country. A majority of diabetic patients develop foot ulcers in one point of time or other during the course of their illness. A significant number of such patients will require long-term hospital treatment and amputations. Objective is to assess the predisposing factor and various modes of clinical presentation and management of Diabetic foot ulcer.Methods: An observational and prospective Hospital based Study was conducted at AIMS, B G Nagara, Bellur Cross from January 2018 to June 2018. A total of 40 patients with Diabetes Mellitus and suffering from diabetic foot ulcer admitted in the department of surgery were included in the study.Results: The mean age was 61+ 13.9 years. The male constituted nearly 26 (65%) and 14 (35%) females. Nearly 31(78%) of the cases had some of the predisposing factors for the diabetic ulcer of the foot The involvement of peripheral Vascular Disease was seen in 6 (16%) of the cases and 9(22%) had. The levels of HbA1C more than 7 mg % was seen in nearly 82 % of the case showing poor glycaemic control.Conclusions: Diabetic patients have always suffered from complications affecting the lower limbs. Foot infection and the subsequent amputation of a lower extremity are the most common cause of hospitalization among diabetic patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1495
Author(s):  
Yu-Chi Wang ◽  
Hsiao-Chen Lee ◽  
Chien-Lin Chen ◽  
Ming-Chun Kuo ◽  
Savitha Ramachandran ◽  
...  

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication in diabetic patients and lead to high morbidity and mortality. Numerous dressings have been developed to facilitate wound healing of DFUs. This study investigated the wound healing efficacy of silver-releasing foam dressings versus silver-containing cream in managing outpatients with DFUs. Sixty patients with Wagner Grade 1 to 2 DFUs were recruited. The treatment group received silver-releasing foam dressing (Biatain® Ag Non-Adhesive Foam dressing; Coloplast, Humlebaek, Denmark). The control group received 1% silver sulfadiazine (SSD) cream. The ulcer area in the silver foam group was significantly reduced compared with that in the SSD group after four weeks of treatment (silver foam group: 76.43 ± 7.41%, SSD group: 27.00 ± 4.95%, p < 0.001). The weekly wound healing rate in the silver foam group was superior to the SSD group during the first three weeks of treatment (p < 0.05). The silver-releasing foam dressing is more effective than SSD in promoting wound healing of DFUs. The effect is more pronounced in the initial three weeks of the treatment. Thus, silver-releasing foam could be an effective wound dressing for DFUs, mainly in the early period of wound management.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfamichael G. Mariam ◽  
Abebaw Alemayehu ◽  
Eleni Tesfaye ◽  
Worku Mequannt ◽  
Kiber Temesgen ◽  
...  

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder which is characterized by multiple long-term complications that affect almost every system in the body. Foot ulcers are one of the main complications of diabetes mellitus. However, there is limited evidence on the occurrence of foot ulcer and influencing factors in Ethiopia. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Gondar University Hospital, Ethiopia, to investigate foot ulcer occurrence in diabetic patients. Systematic random sampling was used to select 279 study participants. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with diabetic foot ulcer. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed to determine the level of significance. Diabetic foot ulcer was found to be 13.6%. Rural residence [AOR = 2.57; 95% CI: 1.42, 5.93], type II diabetes mellitus [AOR = 2.58; 95% CI: 1.22, 6.45], overweight [AOR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.15, 3.10], obesity [AOR = 2.65; 95% CI: 1.25, 5.83], poor foot self-care practice [AOR = 2.52; 95% CI: 1.21, 6.53], and neuropathy [AOR = 21.76; 95% CI: 8.43, 57.47] were factors associated with diabetic foot ulcer. Diabetic foot ulcer was found to be high. Provision of special emphasis for rural residence, decreasing excessive weight gain, managing neuropathy, and promoting foot self-care practice would decrease diabetic foot ulcer.


2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (01) ◽  
pp. 153-161
Author(s):  
MUHAMMAD SAEED AKHTAR ◽  
MAQSOOD AHMAD ◽  
MUHAMMAD BADAR BASHIR ◽  
Muhammad Irfan ◽  
Zahid Yasin Hashmie

Objective: (1) To evaluate the effects of G-CSF in eliminating infection in diabetic foot wound (2) Tocompare the effects with conventional diabetic foot management. Design: Prospective, open, randomized comparativestudy. Setting: Medical&Surgical Department of Allied, DHQ Hospital & Nawaz Medicare Faisalabad. Period: FromJan 2000 to Nov 2000 Patients & Methods: Fifty diabetic patients with foot infections were included in this study. Themean age was 52 years ranging from 27 to 60 years. They were divided into two equal groups(Group A and Group B).Results: The male patients were 41(82%) and female 9(18%). Forty six percent of patients were on oral hypoglycaemicdrugs, and 54% on insulin. The trauma preceding infection was 20%, Peripheral neuropathy 94% and peripheralvascular disease 34%. Thirty two percent of patients were smoker. Group A were subjected to G-CSF ( Neupogen )therapy (n=25) subcutanously daily for 5days in addition to conventional measures. Whereas patients in Group Breceived only conventional therapy. Both groups received similar antibiotic and insulin treatment. G-CSF therapy wasassociated with earlier eradication of pathogens from the infected ulcer (median 5 [range 2-11] vs11 [6-31] days in thegroup B; (p=<O.000I), quicker resolution of cellulitis (6 vs l4 days; p<O.0001), shorter hospital stay (8 vsl6 days;p<O.000l), and a shorter duration of intravenous antibiotic treatment (7 vs l4 days ;p—0.0001).No G-CSF treatedpatient needed surgery, whereas three patients in group B underwent toe amputation and six had extensivedebridement under anaesthesia (p=0.00 1). G-CSF therapy was generally well tolerated. Conclusion: Granulocytecolony stimulating factor (G-CSF) may be used as a good adjuvant therapy along with conventional measures for themanagement of diabetic foot infection, as it promotes the healing of diabetic foot ulcer/cellulitis and consequentlyprevents many hazardous complications like amputation of limbs, long hospital stays, extensive and prolonged antibioticuse and last but not the least the total misery of the patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (Sup6) ◽  
pp. S6-S9
Author(s):  
Melanie Lumbers

Community nurses face numerous challenges in both diagnosing and effectively treating their patients. The diabetic patient has complex needs requiring a holistic approach. With a reported increase in diabetic patients, and a possible decline in some routine screening following Covid-19 pandemic, complications in diabetic patients are likely to rise. It is estimated that 25% of diabetic patients will develop a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), with a reported 43% of DFU already infected at first presentation to a health professional. NICE categorise the level of infection in DFU based on standardised assessments such as SINBAD. A high categorised DFU has the possibility of osteomyelitis. It is imperative that osteomyelitis is treated immediately to achieve positive outcomes, benefitting the patients' health and wellbeing in addition to reducing the financial implications to the NHS.


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