[Plausible solution to prevent major amputation in diabetic foot patients]

Area of Science:

• Podiatric Medicine
• Wound Healing
• Diabetology

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus is a global health crisis with severe complications like diabetic foot, often leading to lower extremity amputations.
• Diabetic foot amputations significantly increase mortality, reduce quality of life, and impose substantial healthcare costs.
• Postoperative infections following diabetic foot amputations are challenging to manage, causing patient suffering and demanding extensive medical resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a combined therapeutic approach for managing minor diabetic foot amputations.
• To determine if Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), hyperbaric treatment, and topical hemoglobin can prevent major amputations.
• To assess the impact of this combined therapy on wound healing time and infection resolution.

Main Methods:

• Patients with minor diabetic foot amputations underwent surgical debridement followed by Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT).
• NPWT was initiated with continuous 125 mm Hg vacuum, transitioning to intermittent therapy.
• All patients also received adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy and topical hemoglobin administration.

Main Results:

• The combined therapy demonstrated high effectiveness in all presented cases.
• This multimodal treatment successfully prevented the need for pending major amputations.
• Wound healing was significantly improved, reducing complications and recovery time.

Conclusions:

• Combined NPWT, hyperbaric treatment, and topical hemoglobin therapy is a highly effective strategy for managing minor diabetic foot amputations.
• This therapeutic combination offers a promising solution to prevent major amputations in diabetic patients with foot complications.
• The study highlights a successful approach to mitigate the severe consequences of diabetic foot disease.