[Strategies for control of diabetic foot syndrome. Amputation rate can be reduced!]

In two-thirds of the cases, wound healing can be achieved by good wound care, namely structured and stage-related management. Some 30% of the cases require extended and innovative therapeutic measures. In these complicated, poorly healing wounds, the supplementary use of special wound dressings or wound medication in the granulation phase can be considered. The application of such substances promoting wound healing (growth factors, cytokinin modulators, e.g. hyaluronic acid or protease inhibitors) may help to activate chronic lesions and thus initiate, and in particular abbreviate, healing. This aspect of reduced healing duration is of particular importance in the diabetic lesion, since it prevents or reduces secondary infection, the most common cause of major amputation.