International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds最新文献

Rehabilitation is usually provided to patients with chronic foot wounds (CFWs) after surgery. This study aimed to assess whether early postoperative rehabilitation could maintain walking independence in hospitalized patients with CFWs. This single-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed between September 10, 2018 and March 2019, involving 60 patients who underwent both surgical procedures and rehabilitation. Participants were randomly allocated into the early rehabilitation (EG, n = 30) or the control (CG, n = 30) groups. EG received early rehabilitation immediately after surgery, while CG received late rehabilitation after wound closure. Both groups received rehabilitation sessions 5 times per week until discharge. The primary outcome was walking independence, measured via Functional Independence Measure (FIM)-gait scores. Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using EuroQol 5 dimensions 5-level (EQ-5D-5L) and the presence of rehabilitation-related adverse events, including dehiscence of wounds and falls. Differences in intervention timing effects were analyzed using nonparametric split-plot factorial design analysis, including Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P < .05). Out of the 60 participants, 53 patients completed the discharge follow up. Three participants (10.0%) from the EG and 4 (13.3%) from the CG dropped out due to postoperative complications unrelated to rehabilitation intervention. No rehabilitation-related adverse events were found. Participants in the EG maintained greater FIM-gait scores during hospitalization than the CG (difference, -1; P = .0001), with a difference of 0 (P = .109) at discharge. EQ-5D-5L significantly improved in both groups (EG: difference, 0.13 [P = .014], CG: difference, 0.17 [P = .0074]). The EG intervention was associated more with maintaining walking independence at discharge than CG intervention. Postoperative rehabilitation improved HRQoL without adverse events, indicating that clinicians should recommend early rehabilitation for patients with CFW to enhance walking independence.

Early detection of PAD and neuropathy is essential to prevent diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The study aimed to identify the inter reliability of diabetic foot check-up (Ipswich touch test [IpTT] and palpation of the dorsal pedis and posterior tibialis) between nurses and caregivers. An inter-operator observation study between nurses and caregivers was conducted to evaluate the reliability of diabetic foot check-up in eight public health centers in eastern Indonesia. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with and without diabetic foot ulcer (DFU, n  =  144) were included in this study. The nurse demonstrates IpTT and palpation of the dorsal pedis and posterior tibial artery, followed by the caregiver. The McNemar test confirmed no difference in IpTT between nurses and caregivers on the left foot at the first, third, and fifth finger (P > 0.05), similar to the right foot (P > 0.05). The sensitivity of palpation dorsal pedis was (47.3%-50%) and (50%-52%) for the left and right foot, respectively. The insights gained from this study may assist in implementing diabetic foot check-up as an early screening tool for risk DFU in the community setting.

ObjectiveTo assess Mönckeberg's medial calcific sclerosis (MMCS) severity in patients with a diabetic foot infection.MethodsThis was an analysis of 2 randomized clinical trials in which we evaluated the treatment of 233 patients admitted to the hospital for moderate and severe foot infections. Arterial calcification was defined as visible radiopaque arteries on foot and ankle radiographs, recorded as the most distal visible artery involved (toes, metatarsals, and ankle/hindfoot).ResultsMost subjects (57.1%, n = 133) had MMCS, with extension to toes in 79 (59.4%), to metatarsals in 32 (24.1%), and to ankle/hindfoot in 22 patients (16.5%). In 7 patients (5.2%) MMCS was solely seen in dorsalis pedis (DP) artery, in 13 patients (9.8%) in posterior tibialis (PT) artery, and in 113 patients (85.0%) MMCS was seen in both arteries. Only 29.2% (n = 68) of DP arteries and 34.8% (n = 81) of PT arteries were not compressible by Doppler. DP and PT arteries were not compressible more often in MMCS (DP 34.3% vs 20.4%, P = .02 and PT 43.1% vs 21.4%, P < .01), toe-brachial indices of ≥0.7 were significantly more common in people without MMCS (46.0% vs 67.4%, P < .01). In contrast, there were no differences in skin perfusion pressure measurements (>50 mmHg; 67.7% vs 68.0%, P = .96), waveforms (biphasic/triphasic 83.5% vs 77.0%, P = .22), and pulse volume recording (9.6 ± 3.3 vs 13.7 ± 36.0) between patients with and without MMCS.ConclusionMMCS is common in patients with diabetic foot infections. MMCS is associated with noncompressible arterial Doppler studies and likely interferes with the accuracy of arterial Doppler studies.

Exercise training adjuvant to standard compression is considered to improve calf muscle pump dysfunction in venous leg ulcer (VLU) and subsequent healing. The objectives of this trial were to assess the effectiveness of a tailored exercise training intervention in addition to standard compression therapy on health-related quality of life and anticipating wound healing. Twenty-four VLU participants were recruited and randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group was prescribed conventional compression, and the intervention group received compression plus progressive tailored exercise training. The 14-item chronic venous disease quality of life questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) was used to assess improvement after treatment over time (0, 6, and 12 weeks). Intervention and control groups achieved wound closure for 11 (92%) and 7 (58%) patients. After adjusting for age, sex, and wound size at baseline, the exercise intervention group had 2 times the probability of complete wound healing in 12 weeks than those in the control group (risk ratio = 1.98, 95% CI= 1.01-3.72, P = .047). The primary outcome was the difference in CIVIQ-14 score in 3 dimensions and global index score per visit. The outcomes were evaluated by independent assessors. Demographic, comorbidities, and wound assessments were collected on enrollment. The overall adherence to exercise protocol was 71%. After adjusting age, sex, size of VLU, and CIVIQ score at baseline, the participants in the intervention group had the average global index scores and psychological scores increase at week 12 than those in the control group (21.2; 95% CI= 7.1-35.2, P = .005, and 13.5; 95% CI = 2.9-24.2, P = .044, respectively). Both groups showed similar improvement in the mean change in physical and pain scores within-group over time. Patients with combined conventional compression therapy with exercise training appeared to have a higher quality of life score in psychological and global scores than those with compression therapy alone.

ObjectiveDiabetic ulcers are a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus and represent one of the most complex and severe complications that can occur in diabetic patients. Most existing studies have separately examined the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) prognostic value or the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR). However, to our knowledge, no study has evaluated the relationship between the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and non-healing lower extremity ulcers (NHLU) in patients. This study explored the association between 3 hematological parameters (MLR, NLR, and PLR) and the risk of non-healing ulceration in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 1999 to 2004. The primary outcome variable was NHLU status, determined by patients' self-reported responses to the question, "Have you had an ulcer or sore on your leg or foot that took more than four weeks to heal?" Logistic regression examined the relationships between MLR, NLR, PLR, and NHLU. Stratified analyses were also conducted based on age, gender, hemoglobin (HGB) level, and body mass index (BMI).ResultsIn the multivariate regression models, after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, poverty income ratio (PIR), BMI, HGB, family history of diabetes, and low-density lipoprotein (model 3), the odds ratios (ORs) of MLR and NLR were 1.21 (1.09-1.33) and 1.02 (1.01-1.03), respectively. However, the association was no longer statistically significant for the NLR (OR = 1.0002, 95% CI: 0.99-1.0005, P = .137). In the subgroup analysis, the effect sizes of MLR and NLR on the presence of NHLU were stable in all subgroups (all P > .05).ConclusionsAfter adjusting for confounding variables, MLR and NLR were significantly increased in T2D participants with NHLU. They may play a significant role in monitoring T2D patients during follow-up visits.

The aim of our study was to identify risk factors for the recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in a selected population of patients in secondary prevention treated, according to International Guidelines, with an integrated foot care protocol by a referral diabetic foot clinic. A retrospective study was performed with the inclusion of selected outpatients with diabetes at higher risk for ulceration with a history of previous ulcer and/or amputation followed in our diabetic foot clinic between January 2015 and December 2021. According to the presence or absence of recurrence, patients were divided into 2 groups: ulcer recurrence and without ulcer recurrence. One hundred twenty-seven (127) patients were included, 47 patients (37%) developed an ulcer recurrence while 80 patients (63%) did not. The mean age was 71.7 years; 65% were male; 97% were affected by type 2 diabetes with a mean duration of 21.1 years, the mean HbA1c was 63 + 21 mmol/mol. Both groups of patients had foot deformities, such as claw and hammertoes; hallux valgus, and prominent metatarsal heads (MTHs). The presence of deformity was significantly associated with ulceration. The group with ulcer recurrence showed a higher rate of prominence MTHs in comparison to a group without ulcer recurrence. The MTHs resulted as the only independent predictor for recurrence. This study shows that the presence of the prominent MTH is a significant risk factor for ulcer recurrence in a selected population of diabetic foot patients treated in the best way with integrated foot care.

Diabetic foot osteomyelitis (OM) requires a longer duration of therapy, a greater need for surgery and implies a higher rate of recidivism, a higher amputation risk, and lower treatment success. But do all bone infections behave the same way, require the same treatment, or imply the same prognosis? Actually, in clinical practice we can verify there are different clinical presentations of OM. The first one is that associated with the infected diabetic foot attack. It requires urgent surgery and debridement since "time is tissue." Clinical features and radiographs are enough for the diagnosis, and treatment should not be delayed. The second one is related to a sausage toe. It affects phalanges and it can be treated with a 6- or 8-week antibiotic course with a high rate of success. Clinical features and radiographs are sufficient for the diagnosis in this case. The third presentation is OM superimposed to Charcot's neuroarthropathy, which mainly comprises midfoot or hindfoot. It starts with a plantar ulcer in a foot that has developed a deformity. The treatment is based on an accurate diagnosis that often includes magnetic resonance, and requires a complex surgery to preserve the midfoot and to avoid recurrent ulcers or foot instability. The final presentation is that of an OM without large soft tissue compromise secondary to a chronic ulcer or a previous unsuccessful surgery secondary to minor amputation or debridement. There is often a small ulcer with a positive probe to bone test over a bony prominence. Diagnosis is made by clinical features, radiographs, and laboratory tests. Treatment includes antibiotic therapy guided by surgical or transcutaneous biopsy, but this presentation often requires surgery. Different presentations of OM mentioned above need to be recognized because the diagnosis, type of culture, antibiotic treatment, surgical treatment, and prognosis are different upon the presentation.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of educational intervention on the balance of diabetic foot amputees. There were 2 groups and 60 patients (30 in each group) in the study. The patients were divided into 2 groups using block randomization to provide equal distribution of the minor and major amputations in groups. An education program was prepared in line with Bandura's Social Cognitive Learning theory. Education was administered to the intervention group before the amputation. Three days after the education, the patients' balance was examined using Berg Balance Scale (BBS). There were not any statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics except for marital status (P = .038). The mean BBS scores were 31.4 ± 17.6 for the intervention group and 20.3 ± 17.8 for the control group. We demonstrated that the intervention lowered fall risk after minor (P = .045) but not major amputation (P = .067). We recommend using education for the patients who will undergo amputation and further studies in larger and different populations.

Cellutome^™ is a minimally invasive, automated system for harvesting fractional epidermal micrografts. This therapy is indicated for granulating, small size, poor exuding acute wounds. We enrolled 15 patients with 9 venous leg ulcers and 6 atypical ulcers. The micrografts were applied with a nonadherent dressing and covered with a polyurethane foam and multilayer bandage. We scheduled 3 weekly visits for the change of the secondary dressings and multilayer bandage and clinical assessment (Wound Bed Score [WBS], pain assessment, and healing rate). The lesions were measured with the Silhouette Star^™ system, a software that allows measurement of perimeter and area from a digital image. The only symptom during the procedure was a sensation of warmth. The donor area healed in 2 weeks in all patients (n = 15). We reported an area reduction of 24.30% in typical ulcers and 38.82% in atypical ulcers after 3 weeks. The average WBS improved in all ulcers from 13.06 to 14.93. The average healing rate was 0.19 mm/day both in typical and atypical ulcers. Consequently, in our small case series fractionated epidermal graft treatment significantly promoted the healing rate in all chronic ulcers regardless of etiology. Future studies with larger case series will be needed.