Diabetic foot: diabetic ulcer care

Background. Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is the presence of an infection and/or ulcer defect of the foot associated with neuropathy and circulatory disorders of the lower extremities of varying severity. Insensitivity of the foot, its deformation and constant load lead to the formation of necrosis under hyperkeratosis with the potential infectious process development. Objective. To describe the features of the course and treatment of DFS. Materials and methods. Analysis of literature data on this issue. Results and discussion. Classification of diabetic ulcers is carried out according to the PEDIS system, where P means perfusion, E – extent, D – depth, I – infection, S – sensation. To assess the circulatory status of the lower extremities, the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and transcutaneous oxygen tension are determined. Critical ischemia is determined by the following criteria: tibial systolic blood pressure <50 mm Hg, big toe blood pressure <30 mm Hg, or transcutaneous oxygen tension <30 mm Hg, or ABI <0.5. DFS treatment involves unloading the foot with the help of special shoes or orthoses, ultrasonic or vacuum cavitation of wounds, surgery, antibiotic therapy. If necessary, anti-pseudomonad antibiotics should be used (ceftazidime, cefoperazone, cefepime, imipenem, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, amikacin). 95 % of the microorganisms present in the world are able to coexist in the form of biofilms – communities of microorganisms in a matrix of polymers (mucopolysaccharides), which are released by the same bacteria. Taking this into account, one should choose antibiotics that can penetrate biofilms. Diabetic ulcers should be covered with dressings such as Hydroclean plus, which contain an antiseptic that protects the wound from secondary infection, prevents excessive evaporation of moisture and has an atraumatic contact layer that prevents traumatization of the young granulation tissue. This dressing continuously releases Ringer’s solution into the wound and absorbs the wound exudate, creating a continuous washing effect. Lacerta (“Yuria-Pharm”) can be used to stimulate the regeneration of long-term defects of connective tissues. Lacerta activates the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts, accelerates their metabolic activity, and enhances angiogenesis. Other methods of accelerating of the wound healing include the use of cryopreserved amniotic membranes and the injection of stem cells. Conclusions. 1. DFS is the presence of an infection and/or ulcerative defect of the foot associated with neuropathy and circulatory disorders of the lower extremities. 2. Classification of diabetic ulcers is carried out according to the PEDIS system. 3. Treatment of DFS involves unloading the foot with special shoes or orthoses, ultrasonic or vacuum cavitation of wounds, antibiotic therapy, surgery. 4. It is advisable to cover diabetic ulcers with hydrogel bandages. 5. Lacerta can be used to stimulate the regeneration of persistent skin defects.

Photo-Optical Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension Measurement Is of Added Value to Predict Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing: An Observational Study

Currently, transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement (TCpO2) is the most favorable non-invasive test for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing prognosis. Photo-optical TCpO2 is novel, less time-consuming and more practical in use compared to regular electro-chemical TCpO2. We prospectively investigated the clinical value of photo-optical TCpO2 to predict DFU healing. Patients with suspected DFU undergoing conservative treatment underwent an ankle pressure, toe-pressure and photo-optical TCpO2 test. The primary endpoint was DFU wound healing at 12 months. Based on their clinical outcome, patients were divided into a DFU healing and DFU non-healing group. Healing was defined as fully healed ulcers and non-healing as ulcers that deteriorated under conservative treatment or that required surgical amputation. Differences between groups were analyzed and an optimal TCpO2 cut-off value was determined. In total, 103 patients were included, of which 68 patients (66%) were classified as DFU healing. The remaining 35 patients (34%) had deteriorated ulcers, of which 29 (83%) eventually required surgical amputation. An optimal TCpO2 cut-off value of 43 mmHg provided a sensitivity, specificity and odds ratio of 0.78, 0.56 and 4.4, respectively. Photo-optical TCpO2 is an adequate alternative tool to validate the vascular status of the lower extremity indicating healing prognosis in patients with DFU. Therefore, we recommend that photo-optical TCpO2 can be safely coapplied in clinical practice to assist in DFU treatment strategy.

Regular Use of FlowAid FA100 SCCD Reduces Pain While Increasing Perfusion and Tissue Oxygenation in Contralateral Limbs of Amputees With Diabetic Neuropathy and Peripheral Arterial Disease: Results of an Open, Pre-Post Intervention, Single-Center Study

Patients with diabetic neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease often suffer pain, develop foot wounds, and go on to lose limbs leaving them with a painful limb. Electrical stimulation is one possibility open to physicians. In this study, the effects of the FlowAid FA100 SCCD, a sequential contraction compression device, were tested. The FA100 device is noninvasive; it uses 4 electrodes to sequentially stimulate the calf muscles in a modified intermittent pneumatic compression manner. A total of 14 patients with diabetic neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, unilateral amputation, and a painful limb were treated with FlowAid FA100 (FlowAid Medical Technologies Corporation, New York, NY) with prior ethical approval. The study design was open, pre-post intervention comparison, and nonrandomized. Pain perceived was measured using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores. Assessments of ankle brachial index (ABI), ultrasound color Duplex, and tissue oxygen using the transcutaneous oxygen technique were done at baseline and 2 successive follow-ups 4 weeks apart. Three out of 14 patients dropped out on account of distances involved in traveling to the clinic. Eleven out of 14 patients experienced statistically significant reduction in pain mean VAS scores (7.5 ± 0.93 to 5.8 ± 1.47, P = .002) associated with increase in ABI (0.64 ± 0.06 to 0.69 ± 0.04, P < .001) and transcutaneous oxygen tension measured on the dorsum (29.4 ± 4.03 to 33.2 ± 5.26 in mm Hg, P = .005). When pain scores were regressed against ABI and transcutaneous oxygen tension values, there was a significant association between these ( r = 0.8, P = .002). The reduction in pain following regular use of FlowAid was accompanied by beneficial and statistically significant increases in perfusion and oxygenation.