Advanced wound healing in a patient with transmetatarsal amputation caused by severe diabetic foot infection: A case...

Introduction and importance: Diabetic foot accounts for 50% to 95 % of non-traumatic amputations. The healing process of a surgical wound resulting from amputation in the diabetic foot is complex, and it is difficult to achieve an optimal outcome, which should include obtaining a functional stump for the patient. Healing is mainly hindered by infection, vascular disease, and wound size. In turn, biofilm formation significantly delays the healing process, increasing morbidity and impairing the amputee's quality of life. Case presentation: This study analyzes the case of an 80-year-old male patient with diabetes who had failed to respond to previous treatment on an infected wound from a transmetatarsal amputation. The new treatment involved spraying the wound with silver sulfadiazine, lidocaine, and vitamin A aerosol and covering it with gauze dressings soaked in silver sulfadiazine, lidocaine, and vitamin A. The case evolution indicators used were total wound area, percentage of granulation tissue, wound perimeter, and maximum distance between the wound edges. A 3D simulation was also used to assess the wound bed. Clinical Discussion: Biofilm is linked to slower wound healing and wound chronicity, as this community of microorganisms in the wound slows down healing even when there are no apparent signs of infection. Therefore, treatment should be geared toward preventing contamination from leading to biofilm formation. Conclusion: Our results show that silver sulfadiazine, lidocaine, vitamin A gauze dressings, and aerosol have promoted fast and effective healing in a diabetic patient with a wound at high risk of greater amputation.