[Potentials for using radiation treatment in complicated diabetic osteoarthropathy]

The possibility of gamma-beam therapy of aggravated diabetic osteoarthropathy is discussed. Seventy patients were exposed to local radiation (orthovolt X-ray therapy, generation voltage being 200 kV) for suppurative inflammation of the foot soft and bony tissues. The total focal dose was 300 to 500 Gy. Previous drug- and ointment treatment performed in all the patients was unsuccessful, as well as the ulcer purification and drainage. As a result of gamma-beam therapy a stable clinical effect was seen in 65 patients within 1 1/2 to 5 years' follow up: inflammation disappeared followed by the wound healing and bone repairing. The results obtained allow one to recommend this method as a component of the complex therapy of the pathology above.