Can Curative Foot Surgery Facilitate The Healing Of Diabetic Foot Ulcers?
Up to 25 percent of people with diabetes will develop a foot ulceration at some point during their lifetimes.1 There are a number of component causes that interact to complete the causal pathway to foot ulceration. However, the most frequent component causes are peripheral neuropathy, deformity and trauma.2,3 Deformity leads to increased plantar pressures and when these are combined with sensory neuropathy, ulcer formation is likely. Therefore, one must consider foot deformities as a possible cause for all foot ulcers. There have been many new, exciting advances in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcerations. However, it is the fundamentals of care that one must prioritize. The basic, fundamental aspects of care include infection control, debridement and offloading. It is also important to ensure adequate limb perfusion and determine if there is an ischemic component to the wound. Proper offloading is an essential component in the overall care of patients with diabetes but this is often