The international journal of lower extremity wounds最新文献

Diabetic foot (DF) is a significant complication with high morbidity and mortality, often resulting from neuropathy and ischemia. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum Gremlin-1 levels and disease severity based on the Wagner classification in DF patients, and to determine its prognostic value in predicting the need for amputation.Eighty-five patients with DF ulcers or considered at high risk for DF were included in the study. The patients' complications were evaluated, and laboratory results were obtained from their records. The Wagner classification was applied, and serum Gremlin-1 levels were analyzed using the ELISA method.It was found that as the Wagner stage of the DF increased, Gremlin-1 levels decreased significantly at the statistical borderline (p = 0.05). In the group of patients who underwent amputation, Gremlin-1 levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The sensitivity of Gremlin-1 in predicting amputation, with a cut-off value of 2.47 ng/ml, was 67%, and its specificity was 46%. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between total cholesterol, LDL, fasting glucose, and Gremlin-1 (p < 0.05). In the group of patients with an HbA1c value >7.5%, Gremlin-1 levels increased significantly (p < 0.05). In patients with albuminuria, serum Gremlin-1 levels decreased significantly (p < 0.05).It was determined that Gremlin-1 plays a role through an unknown mechanism in DF patients, and its levels decrease as the Wagner stage increases. Gremlin-1 levels were significantly decreased in the amputation group (p < 0.05). It was shown that Gremlin-1 could be a prognostic marker for predicting amputation.

The current study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients admitted for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) located in the heel. The study is a retrospective observational study including a population of patients admitted for DFUs from April 2024 to September 2024. According to the wound location, patients were divided in two groups: those with heel ulcers and those with forefoot/midfoot ulcers without calcaneal involvement. All patients have been managed through a limb salvage protocol in the respect of international guidelines. The following hospital outcomes were evaluated: minor and major amputation, mortality, length of stay, need for regenerative surgery by using dermal-epidermal graft. Overall, 150 patients were included. The mean age was 70.2 ± 12.2 years, most patients were male (76.0%), had type 2 diabetes (92.7%) with a mean duration of 22.1±13.2 years; 27 (18%) patients had heel ulcers, while 123 (82%) had forefoot/midfoot lesions. Outcomes for patients with heel location and without were: minor amputation (18.5 vs 32.5%, p = 0.1), major amputation (7.4 vs 0.8%, p = 0.02), mortality (0 vs 0.8%, p = 0.5), length of hospital stay (17.5 ± 8.5 vs 14.4 ± 8.7 days, p = 0.08), need for regenerative therapy using dermal-epidermal substitutes (48.1 vs 19.5%, p = 0.003) respectively. In addition, heel ulcer was found to be an independent predictor for major amputation [OR 5.06, CI95% (3.1-11.4), p = 0.02] and length of stay [OR 6 CI95% (3.6-10.9), p = 0.003]. In patients admitted for DFUs, wounds located in the heel were associated to an increased risk of major amputation, need for regenerative therapy and length of stay (even though in the limit of statistical difference) than wounds not located in the heel. These data underline the need for tailored management strategies in this high-risk subgroup of patients.

Lower extremity arteriovenous (AV) access serves as a crucial alternative for hemodialysis when upper extremity options are no longer viable. While there are numerous reports on functional patency, limited information exists regarding complications related to venous insufficiency and postoperative quality of life. This study aims to assess the actual incidence of such complications and provide evidence-based insights for clinical decision-making. We retrospectively analyzed 121 end-stage renal disease patients who underwent lower extremity AV access at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital from 2006 to 2023. Among them, 105 patients (86.8%) had lower extremity AV grafts, while 16 patients (13.2%) had lower extremity AVF. Primary and secondary patency rate were 69.4% and 81.8% at one year, respectively. The mortality probability was 50.4% with a mean follow-up of 58 months. Mortality predictors included age (P = .001), aspirin use (P = .022) and statin use (P = .005). Primary failure occurred in 8 patients (6.6%) and vascular graft infection is the primary cause. There were no occurrences of venous leg ulcers developed, suggesting that the risk of this complication may be lower than previously thought in the short to medium term. However, 13.3% of patients experienced leg swelling and 21.7% had hyperpigmentation. The mean revised venous clinical severity score was 1.22 and the average EQ-5D-5L quality of life score was 0.99. Our findings suggest that the risk of venous leg ulcers in patients with lower extremity AV access may be lower than previously thought, at least in the short to medium term. This should encourage surgeons to consider this technique when upper extremity options are exhausted, while maintaining vigilance for early signs of venous insufficiency. Continued research into the detrimental effects of the hyper-dynamic blood flow rate on AV access and preventive strategies will enhance the benefit of lower extremity AV access in the future.

AimTo clarify the clinical characteristics of autoimmune disease (AID)-related ulcers to improve treatment outcomes.Materials and MethodsThe medical records of 189 patients treated for AID-related ulcers at two tertiary hospitals in Nanjing, China, from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The relevant clinical data included diagnosis, type and severity of wounds, and prescribed medications.ResultsOf the 189 patients with AID-related ulcers, 146 (77.25%) were female and 43 (22.75%) were male. The top four immunological diagnoses were rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, and vasculitis. The four most common wound sites were the lower limb, foot, hand, and upper limb. Regarding the number of wounds, 81 (42.86%) patients had one ulcer, 43 (22.75%) had two, 30 (15.87%) had three, and 35 (18.52%) had four or more. More than half of the patients (54%, 102/189) were previously treated for AID-related ulcers. Of these 102 patients, 27 (26.47%) had one previous diagnosis, 49 (40.83%) had two, and 26 (25.49%) had three or more. Among all 189 patients, 142 (75%) had clinical symptoms of local infection. Of these 142 patients, bacteria cultures were conducted for 70 (49.30%), of which 63 (90.00%) were positive. The most commonly detected bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The median (interquartile range) duration of AID-related ulcers was 55 (39, 90) days. Most patients (87.3%, 165/189) received systemic therapy with immunosuppressants and hormones.ConclusionsThe most common clinical characteristics of AID-associated ulcers were spontaneous rupture, long duration, multiple wounds, bacterial infection, and recurrence. Clarification of the clinical characteristics of AID-associated ulcers can improve treatment outcomes.

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) cause a significant health care burden due to high health care costs, prolonged treatment, and high recurrence. Our study aims to compare between retrograde venous perfusion (RVP) combined with conventional therapy versus conventional therapy for treatment of chronic VLUs with regard to safety and efficacy. Drugs used for RVP were prostaglandin E1 (alprostadil), calcium heparin, hydrocortisone, pheniramine maleate, and lidocaine. This was a randomized controlled study conducted on 60 patients with chronic VLUs from June 2023 to June 2024. Patients were divided into two groups: RVP with conventional therapy versus conventional therapy only. Outcomes included the rate of complete ulcer closure and the percentage of healing at 6 months, ulcer-related complications, and recurrence rates. At 6 months, the RVP with conventional therapy group had a significantly higher ulcer surface area reduction, 83.7% versus 61%, p = 0.001, and a higher percentage of complete healing, 86.2% versus 44.8%, p = 0.005, as compared to the conventional therapy alone group. Similarly, time to complete healing was shorter in the RVP group at 7.8 ± 2.61 weeks versus 10.7 ± 4.31 weeks, p < 0.001. There was no significant difference in rates of wound infection between the two groups. Lower, though statistically non-significant, recurrence rates were seen within the RVP group: 8% versus 15.4%. RVP should be considered one of the adjunctive treatments for chronic VLUs. It offered positive results with regard to improved healing outcomes and reduced ulcer size. More researches are needed to confirm these conclusions.

Pythiosis is an infectious disease in humans and animals caused by an aquatic fungus-like micro-organism, Pythium insidiosum. Vascular pythiosis is a difficult condition to treat and can lead to loss of limb in addition to being a potentially life-threatening infection. The condition is furthermore unfamiliar among healthcare workers, which often results in delayed treatment or even misdiagnosis. In this study, we report our findings, which have been gathered over a 20-year period in caring for vascular pythiosis in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand. We made a retrospective medical review of 32 patients presented with arterial occlusion who have serum anti-Pythium insidiosum antibodies. All patients underwent computed tomography angiography to confirm the level of arterial occlusion and decided on a treatment plan. Twelve out of 22 patients with infrainguinal disease, femoropopliteal or below-knee vascular occlusion, survived. The mean survival time is 6.58 years. Eight in 10 patients presented with suprainguinal disease died during the follow-up with a mean survival time of 31.6 months. The suprainguinal extension of the disease influenced the outcome, resulting in a higher mortality rate. However, patients presented with chronic limb ischemia had a much greater rate of survival compared to other clinical presentations. Extensive surgical resection combined with antifungal treatment and immunotherapy have proven to be effective in patients with vascular pythiosis in our findings.

Intermittent claudication is a primary symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). a chronic progressive disease caused primarily by atherosclerosis. It is usually characterized by leg pain, aches, cramps, or fatigue when walking, which improves with rest. Physical therapy, including a supervised exercise program, is often recommended as the first treatment for sprains. This study aims to evaluate the short-term effects of incorporating heel raise and calf stretch exercises with standard medical therapy compared to medical therapy alone in managing intermittent claudication. From May 2022 to November 2023, 160 patients with Stage II Fontaine PAD were randomly assigned to two equal groups. Group A (80 patients) received heel raise and calf stretch exercises in addition to medical treatment, while Group B (80 patients) received only medical treatment. Both groups underwent treadmill walking tests before and after three months to measure absolute walking distance (ACD), peak walking time (PWT), and Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) scores, including distance, speed, and symptom severity. At baseline, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of ACD, peak walking time, ankle-brachial index, distance, speed, and symptoms. At follow-up, Group A showed significantly greater improvements in ACD (312.00 ± 45.43 m), peak walking time (8.54 ± 1.55 min), distance (29.46 ± 4.63 km), speed (20.01 ± 3.13 kph), and WIQ symptoms (22.10 ± 1.02) compared to Group B, which had ACD (276.55 ± 29.07 m), peak walking time (6.72 ± 1.70 min), distance (23.68 ± 3.89 km), speed (15.71 ± 2.71 kph), and WIQ symptoms (20.80 ± 1.47) (P < .001). The ankle-brachial index remained similar between the groups (P > .05). We concluded that integrating standard physical therapy exercises, such as calf raises and leg stretches, with medical therapy significantly enhances walking function in patients with ischemic intermittent claudication.

Several associations have been made between COVID-19 and vasculitis. Recent data also shows the prevalence and association of de novo vasculitis with either COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 post vaccination. In this article, we present the case of new-onset leukocytoclastic vasculitis, secondary to COVID-19 vaccination, that was complicated by severe infected and nonhealing ulcers in the lower extremities.CaseA 53-year-old male patient presented to the dermatology clinics with a three-week history of painful necrotic patches coalescent of the lateral malleolus of the right and left ankles. History goes back to when the patient reported developing pruritic papules two weeks after receiving his second shot of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2). Punch biopsy was consistent with leukocytoclastic vasculitis. He was prescribed a four-week course of systemic corticosteroids and antibiotics as per cultures. Vascular assessment confirmed normal peripheral arterial and venous system. Two months later, the patient re-presented with fever and worsening of his lower extremity ulcers. He underwent debridement of his wounds. Intra-operative cultures revealed multidrug resistant bacteria. He required an additional debridement session a few days later and a 14-day course of Piperacillin-Tazobactam. The patient was subsequently discharged on corticosteroids and Azathioprine and followed up in the vascular surgery and rheumatology clinics. At four months follow-up, the patient's wounds were almost completely healed.ConclusionThis article highlights a case of severe new-onset COVID-19 vaccine-associated leukocytoclastic vasculitis complicated with infected ulcers that required debridement twice in addition to a prolonged course of antibiotics and immunosuppression therapy. To our knowledge, none of the cases reported in the literature were this severe in nature. In this post-pandemic era, it must remain high on the differential list, and healthcare specialists should maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating sudden new-onset skin lesions that do not have an immediately apparent etiology.

The optimal method for assessing residual osteomyelitis after conservative surgery for diabetic foot infection remains controversial. Microbiological cultures are frequently used due to their rapid turnaround and utility in guiding antibiotic therapy, but their diagnostic reliability is uncertain. This study compared microbiological cultures and histopathology in evaluating bone resection margins, using histopathology as the gold standard. We included 93 patients undergoing conservative surgery for diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Bone samples were obtained from the proximal resection margin for both microbiology and histopathology. A microbiological result was considered contamination when cultures were positive but histopathology was negative. Microbiological cultures at bone resection margins yielded 52 true positives, 23 false positives (contamination), 10 false negatives, and 8 true negatives when compared to histopathology. This resulted in a sensitivity of 83.9%, specificity of 25.8%, positive predictive value of 69.3%, and negative predictive value of 44.4%. Contamination was not associated with the severity of infection, presence of soft tissue involvement, inflammatory markers, or glycemic control. No association was found between contamination and polymicrobial flora in the primary surgical specimen. However, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the only species significantly associated with contamination (p = .008), suggesting species-specific factors may contribute to microbiological false positives. These findings emphasize that microbiology, while sensitive, is not a specific method for assessing residual bone infection and should not be used in isolation. Histopathology remains the more reliable diagnostic tool. Future research should explore biofilm-targeted strategies and intraoperative antiseptic protocols to reduce contamination of bone biopsy specimens obtained from resection margins.