Posted on 09/19/2022 6:38:04 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Performing proactive surgery to adjust the foot appears to be effective to treat diabetic foot ulcers, without the potential complications and at significantly lower cost compared to conservative management.
The study describes how these procedures in 19 patients successfully resolved all foot ulcers, prevented diabetic foot sepsis, and reduced recurrence and amputation rates compared to 15 patients treated conservatively.
Researchers describe how a day-case procedure list within diabetes teams has affected outcomes by performing proactive simple surgical procedures.
19 patients with diabetic foot ulcers (without associated abscesses) were offered a percutaneous procedure performed under local anaesthetic by an orthopedic surgeon, while 14 patients were treated conservatively, with best medical and podiatric management.
The surgery was to adjust the mechanics of the foot to remove the pressure on the ulcerated region to accelerate healing.
A further 9 patients (average age 49 years, all male) with ulcers on the sole of the foot behind the toes and tightness in the Achilles tendon underwent Tendo-Achilles lengthening to stretch the tendon to allow the patient to walk flat-footed.
After one year of follow-up, all patients in the surgery group achieved successful ulcer resolution (average time 3.3-4.5 weeks) compared to three patients (36%) in the usual care group (average time 20 weeks).
During follow-up, no patients in the surgery group were admitted for diabetic foot sepsis compared to seven (46%) in the usual care group. And ulcer recurrence occurred in only two patients (10%) in the surgery group compared to 10 (66%) in the conservative treatment cohort.
Similarly, amputation was more common in the usual care group (7 patients, 66%) than the surgery group (2 patients, 10%). No patients in the surgery cohort died, whereas six in the conservative care group died.
The researchers estimate an 88% reduction in healthcare costs following the procedure.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I don’t think these discoveries and advancements would happen under any single payer system. Guess I’m a racist. Find a connection.
Great news. Diabetes causes so much human suffering, a lot of it due to this problem of ulcerating extremities. Many of these patients are in costly nursing homes due to needing extensive nursing care. DM II costs the country a massive fortune.
My father ended up losing both of his legs to diabetic foot ulcers before he died. Wish that they had this technology then
“A further 9 patients (average age 49 years, all male)”
Scary crap - 49 years old????
Would be better if they could treat diabetic foot pain (neuropathy) rather than the associated ulcers. I gladly have my feet amputated if I can get rid of the crippling pain.
What supplements have you tried?
Wish this had been available a few years ago when a friend of ours lost his foot to a ulcer.
I have chronic or intermittant foot pain, possibly due to damaged nerves following a surgery.
Nothing on the scale or severity the previous poster has just described.
The only thing that helps me is gabapentin.
I was offered something similar duca- something, but that med left me with a very dry mouth for the whole day.
It won’t.🙄
Alpha Lipoic Acid, B12, Benfotiamine and others..I am not diabetic.
Doctors use surgery to give you a flat foot? Isn’t that negative?
Bkmk
I noticed that too.
Diet, I'm betting.
ConservativeMind
Thank you on behalf of every Freeper for the tireless service you provide keeping us all updated on the latest health news.
Sincerely.
I very much want you and all others here on Free Republic to be the healthiest we can be with the least effort possible, allowing more time for living a great and useful life.
We are beset by so many societal and health ills. I believe we can handle both of these much better by taking steps to prevent and treat health problems.
There is much more hope for something better, and that hope comes out, every day. Live that life to glorify God and may we all meet in Heaven.
Is there a condition identified as the reason for the pain?
Thank you for mentioning it can’t be diabetes.
There are supplements that can help with nerve damage, to varying degrees, but they don’t address a mechanical issue, like a pinched nerve, but they can help repair a nerve after that is dealt with.
Could it be something in your back? Have you had a neurologist look at it?
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