Effectiveness of standard treatment for foot ulcer of diabetic patients

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease and an important leading cause of death in the world. It is associated with potentially serious complications. Diabetic foot ulcer is a major debilitating complication of diabetes and in severe cases result in lower extremity amputation. Several multidisciplinary approaches are used for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer. The main objective of this study was evaluating the effectiveness of standard treatment in patients with diabetic foot ulcer. Methods: Patients with diabetic foot ulcer entered this study. Detailed medical history was recorded for the patients and each participant signed the informed consent. Standard treatment approach including patient education, diabetes control, infection treatment, offloading and weekly debridement was started by our therapeutic team. Findings: 56 patients with diabetic foot ulcer were evaluated in this study. The mean age of the patients was 59.46±12.66 years. 62 percent of the patients achieved significant wound improvement (decreased wound area and control of infection) with the mean of 4.73 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study present a further documentation of the effectiveness of standard treatment care for diabetic foot ulcer. This multidisciplinary approach aiming the major pathophysiologic components of the disease can lead to significant improvement with few side effects. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.