Journal List > J Korean Foot Ankle Soc > v.18(1) > 1043298

Seo and Lee: Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Abstract

In patients with diabetic foot, ulceration and amputation are the most serious consequences and can lead to morbidity and disability. Peripheral arterial sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, and foot deformities are major causes of foot problems. Foot deformities, following autonomic and motor neuropathy, lead to development of over-pressured focal lesions causing the diabetic foot to be easily injured within the shoe while walking. Wound healing in these patients can be difficult due to impaired phagocytic activity, malnutrition, and ischemia. Correction of deformity or shoe modification to relieve the pressure of over-pressured points is necessary for ulcer management. Application of selective dressings that allow a moist environment following complete debridement of the necrotic tissue is mandatory. In the case of a large soft tissue defect, performance of a wound coverage procedure by either a distant flap operation or a skin graft is necessary. Patients with a Charcot joint should be stabilized and consolidated into a plantigrade foot. The bony prominence of a Charcot foot can be corrected by a bumpectomy in order to prevent ulceration. The most effective management of the diabetic foot is ulcer prevention: controlling blood sugar levels and neuropathic pain, smoking cessation, stretching exercises, frequent examination of the foot, and appropriate education regarding footwear.

References

1. Kim DJ. The epidemiology of diabetes in Korea. Diabetes Metab J. 2011; 35:303–8.
crossref
2. Kim JM, Kim DY, Woo JT, Kim SW, Yang IM, Kim JW, et al. A clinical study on the diabetic foot lesions. J Korean Diabetes Assoc. 1993; 17:387–94.
3. Wagner FW. A classification and treatment program for diabetics, neuropathic and dysvascular foot problems. Instr Course Lect. 1979; 28:143–4.
4. Coughlin MJ, Mann RA, Saltzman CL. Surgery of the foot and ankle. 8th ed.Philadelphia: Mosby;2007.
5. Mann RA, Wapner KL. Tibial sesamoid shaving for treatment of intractable plantar keratosis. Foot Ankle. 1992; 13:196–8.
crossref
6. Lin SS, Lee TH, Wapner KL. Plantar forefoot ulceration with equinus deformity of the ankle in diabetic patients: the effect of tendo-Achilles lengthening and total contact casting. Orthopedics. 1996; 19:465–75.
crossref
7. Cullen BD, Weinraub GM, Van Gompel G. Early results with use of the midfoot fusion bolt in Charcot arthropathy. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2013; 52:235–8.
crossref
8. Grant WP, Garcia-Lavin S, Sabo R. Beaming the columns for Charcot diabetic foot reconstruction: a retrospective analysis. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2011; 50:182–9.
crossref
9. Assal M, Ray A, Stern R. Realignment and extended fusion with use of a medial column screw for midfoot deformities secondary to diabetic neuropathy. Surgical technique. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010; 92(Suppl 1 Pt 1):20–31.
10. Berendt AR, Lipsky B. Is this bone infected or not? Differentiating neuro-osteoarthropathy from osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot. Curr Diab Rep. 2004; 4:424–9.
crossref
11. Ertugrul BM, Lipsky BA, Savk O. Osteomyelitis or Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy? Differentiating these disorders in diabetic patients with a foot problem. Diabet Foot Ankle. 2013; 4:doi: 10.3402/dfa.v4i0.21855.
crossref
12. Beckman JA, Creager MA, Libby P. Diabetes and atherosclerosis: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management. JAMA. 2002; 287:2570–81.
13. Kim KW. Diabetic Foot. J Korean Med Assoc. 2007; 50:447–54.
crossref
14. Apelqvist J, Castenfors J, Larsson J, Stenström A, Agardh CD. Prognostic value of systolic ankle and toe blood pressure levels in outcome of diabetic foot ulcer. Diabetes Care. 1989; 12:373–8.
crossref
15. Donas KP, Torsello G, Schwindt A, Schönefeld E, Boldt O, Pi-toulias GA. Below knee bare nitinol stent placement in high-risk patients with critical limb ischemia is still durable after 24 months of follow-up. J Vasc Surg. 2010; 52:356–61.
crossref
16. Bamberger DM, Daus GP, Gerding DN. Osteomyelitis in the feet of diabetic patients. Long-term results, prognostic factors, and the role of antimicrobial and surgical therapy. Am J Med. 1987; 83:653–60.
17. Prosdocimi M, Bevilacqua C. Impaired wound healing in diabetes: the rationale for clinical use of hyaluronic acid plus silver sulfadiazine. Minerva Med. 2012; 103:533–9.
18. Valenzuela-Silva CM, Tuero-Iglesias ÁD, García-Iglesias E, González-Díaz O, Del Río-Martín A, Yera Alos IB, et al. Granulation response and partial wound closure predict healing in clinical trials on advanced diabetes foot ulcers treated with recombinant human epidermal growth factor. Diabetes Care. 2013; 36:210–5.
crossref
19. Madhok BM, Vowden K, Vowden P. New techniques for wound debridement. Int Wound J. 2013; 10:247–51.
crossref
20. Richmond NA, Maderal AD, Vivas AC. Evidence-based management of common chronic lower extremity ulcers. Dermatol Ther. 2013; 26:187–96.
crossref
21. Mendonca DA, Cosker T, Makwana NK. Vacuum-assisted closure to aid wound healing in foot and ankle surgery. Foot Ankle Int. 2005; 26:761–6.
crossref
22. Malhotra S, Bello E, Kominsky S. Diabetic foot ulcerations: biomechanics, charcot foot, and total contact cast. Semin Vasc Surg. 2012; 25:66–9.
crossref
23. Pinzur MS, Lio T, Posner M. Treatment of Eichenholtz stage I Charcot foot arthropathy with a weightbearing total contact cast. Foot Ankle Int. 2006; 27:324–9.
crossref
24. Keast DH, Vair AH. Use of the charcot restraint orthotic walker in treatment of neuropathic foot ulcers: a case series. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2013; 26:549–52.
25. Oh TS, Lee HS, Hong JP. Diabetic foot reconstruction using free flaps increases 5-year-survival rate. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2013; 66:243–50.
crossref
26. Wheat LJ, Allen SD, Henry M, Kernek CB, Siders JA, Kuebler T, et al. Diabetic foot infections. Bacteriologic analysis. Arch Intern Med. 1986; 146:1935–40.
crossref
27. Kwon YJ, Han KA, Sung SK, Yoo HJ. A Clinical study on the diabetic foot lesions. J Korean Diabetes Assoc. 1989; 13:39–46.
28. Ku BJ, Choi DE, Jeong JO, Rha SY, Lee HJ, Hong WJ, et al. The clinical observations in diabetic patients with foot ulcer. Diabetes Monit. 2002; 3:244–52.
29. Malone M, Bowling FL, Gannass A, Jude EB, Boulton AJ. Deep wound cultures correlate well with bone biopsy culture in diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2013; 29:546–50.

Figure 1.
Intractable toe ulcers caused by toe deformities. (A) Hammer toes. (B) Toe tip ulcer. (C) Toe tip ulcer of right big toe caused by limitation of dorsiflexion (arrows). (D) Dorsal ulcer of overriding second hammer toe. (E) Medial ulcer of big toe of hallux valgus deformity (arrow).
jkfas-18-1f1.tif
Figure 2.
Intractable plantar ulcer (A) due to bony prominence (B, arrow) in Charcot foot. (C) Bumpectomy of the bony prominence (arrow). (D) Completely healed ulcer after bumpectomy.
jkfas-18-1f2.tif
Figure 3.
Chronic wound on the lateral side of right foot (A) with osteomyelitis of the fifth metatarsal base (B, arrow). (C) Healed chronic wound after complete debridement including resection of infected bone.
jkfas-18-1f3.tif
Figure 4.
(A) Intractable plantar ulcer. (B, C) Plantar condylectomy was done. (D) Healed wound after condylectomy.
jkfas-18-1f4.tif
TOOLS
Similar articles