Validity of DMIST for monitoring healing of diabetic foot ulcers

A new diabetic foot evaluation scale was proposed, using the seven domains of depth, maceration, inflammation/infection, size, tissue type of the wound bed, type of wound edge, and tunneling/undermining. This scale was named “DMIST” as an acronym from the initials of the domains. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of DMIST. Secondary analysis was conducted in three investigations performed using the diabetic foot ulcer assessment scale (DFUAS) in Japan and Indonesia. Secondary analysis was assessed using DMIST, PUSH, and DESIGN for 4 weeks based on DFUAS score and photographs of diabetic foot ulcers by researchers. Concurrent validity was determined from the correlation of total DMIST scores with PUSH and DESIGN scores. Construct validity was determined by comparisons between total DMIST score and grade of the Wagner classification. Predictive validity was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for wound non‐healing 4 weeks later. Subjects comprised 35 Japanese patients and 118 Indonesian patients. Correlations of total DMIST score with PUSH and DESIGN scores were 0.831 and 0.822, respectively. Comparison of total DMIST scores with grade of the Wagner classification (Grade I vs. Grade II/III vs. Grade IV/V) was p < 0.001. Based on an area under the curve of 0.872, a DMIST score of 9 was selected as a cut‐off, offering sensitivity of 0.855 and specificity of 0.786 for wound non‐healing 4 weeks later. Our findings suggest that DMIST offers high validity.     

Validity and reliability of Chinese version of the new diabetic foot ulcer assessment scale

A specific assessment tool is urgently needed to guide effective wound care for diabetic foot ulcers. However, the tool has not been available in Chinese. We aimed to culturally translate and verify the validity and reliability of the new Diabetic Foot Ulcer Assessment Scale (DFUAS). The original scale was translated into Chinese according to the Brislin guidelines. Patients satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited. Each of the included foot ulcers was evaluated independently by two wound care specialists using the new DFUAS and by the third wound care specialists at the same time using the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool according to per guidelines. 210 diabetic foot ulcers were included for data analysis. The S-CVI of the Chinese version of the DFUAS was 0.96, and the I-CVIs ranged from 0.89 to 0.98. The total Cronbach's Alpha of the scale was 0.709, and the corrected item-total correlation of the items ranged from 0.4 to 0.872. The DFUAS had high inter-observer reliability of 0.997, and there were weak, moderate, and strong correlations between each pair of the items. The Bland–Altman plots showed a good agreement between the scale and the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool. We concluded that the Chinese version of the DFUAS showed good validity and reliability and is a reliable instrument for the assessment of diabetic foot ulcers.     

Clinical Classification of Bioengineered Skin Use and Its Correlation with Healing of Diabetic and Venous Ulcers

BACKGROUND: Chronic wounds are being treated with bioengineering skin constructs. Yet, there is no standard way of assessing these wounds. We developed a classification system to evaluate wounds after construct application. The classification system evaluates the early clinical effect of bioengineered skin and early construct appearance giving a total score named the skin substitute score. OBJECTIVE: Apply classification system to both venous and diabetic foot ulcers and determine whether classification system has validity and predictability for healing. METHODS: Evaluated serial photographs in 83 and 78 patients with diabetic foot ulcers and in 84 and 83 patients with venous ulcer on Days 7 and 14, respectively, treated with a bilayered bioengineered skin construct. Applied the classification system and determined the percentages of healed patients. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between better skin substitute score and complete wound closure for both venous ulcers p=0.002 on Day 7 and p=0.01 on Day 14) and diabetic foot ulcers p=0.0005 on Day 7 and p<0.0001 on Day 14). CONCLUSION: Optimal clinical effect was associated with complete wound closure. As the clinical effect becomes less than optimal continued clinical persistence of the construct becomes important. This classification system seems to have validity in predicting complete wound closure in wounds treated with a bilayered bioengineered skin construct.     

The value of a wound score for diabetic foot infections in predicting treatment outcome: A prospective analysis from the SIDESTEP trial

Scoring the severity of a diabetic foot wound infection may help assess the severity, determine the type and urgency of antibiotic and surgical treatment needed, and predict clinical outcomes. We developed a 10-item diabetic foot infection wound score (results could range from 3 to 49 [least to most severe]) incorporating semi-quantitative grading of both wound measurements and various infection parameters. Using data from a prospective diabetic foot infection antibiotic trial (SIDESTEP), we evaluated the score's accuracy in predicting outcome, analyzed its components and tested it for consistency, construct, and validity. Wound scores for 371 patients significantly correlated with the clinical response; it was favorable at the follow-up assessment in 94.8% with a baseline score ≤12 compared with 77.0% with a score >19. Scores demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's α >0.70 to <0.95). Patients with more severe wounds had higher scores, supporting construct validity. Excluding scores for wound discharge (purulent and nonpurulent), leaving an eight-item score, provided better measurement statistics. This easily performed wound score appears to be a reliable, valid, and useful tool for predicting clinical outcomes. Further validation studies in different patient populations should refine the items included.     

The accuracy of using a wound care specialty clinic database to study diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers

Few epidemiologic studies have examined the effect of clinical risk factors on the probability that a patient with a chronic wound will heal or develop another wound. Curative Health Services maintains one of the few databases that contain detailed patient record information on patients with chronic wounds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of using this database to study individuals with diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers. 154 patient medical records were randomly selected from the database and abstracted using a standardized questionnaire and protocol. We assessed three key variables: diagnosis of diabetic neuropathic foot ulcer, whether the patient healed, and if the patient received an autologous product called platelet releasate. These variables in the database very accurately agreed with the information in the patient medical records, with positive predictive values of 98% (95% confidence interval [0.89, 0.99]), 93% (95% confidence interval [0. 68, 0.99]), and 100%, respectively. We have shown that, with respect to these three variables, the database is very accurate when compared to the medical record. It therefore represents a valuable tool with which to study patients with diabetic insensate foot ulcers.     

两种银敷料对慢性伤口愈合及渗液酸碱度影响的比较

目的比较两种银敷料辅助治疗慢性感染伤口的效果及对伤口渗液酸碱度的影响,以指导银敷料在慢性伤口治疗中的合理使用。方法将糖尿病足溃疡、压疮、下肢静脉溃疡、创伤性溃疡、烧伤残余创面5类慢性伤口患者104例随机分为A、B两组,每组52例。两组患者均按照统一方法评估、清洗和清创后,A组使用银离子藻酸盐敷料、B组使用纳米银敷料,分别接受30d的伤口局部辅助治疗。观察比较两组伤口治疗前及治疗后不同时间段的伤口愈合评分及渗液pH值。结果随着治疗时间的延长,两组伤口愈合计分和渗液pH值均较治疗前下降,A组患者伤口愈合计分显著优于B组(P0.01);两组伤口渗液pH值比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论两种银敷料辅助治疗慢性感染伤口均能促进伤口愈合,但银离子藻酸盐敷料的效果更优;两种银敷料均能降低伤口渗液pH值且作用相当。     

Wound outcomes in patients with advanced illness

A prospective case series was studied to assess the potential for complete healing of wounds among patients with advanced illness referred to a regional palliative care program in Toronto, Canada. Two hundred and eighty‐two patients, of which 148 were primarily diagnosed with cancer and 134 with non cancer advanced illness, were assessed and followed until their deaths. On the baseline initial referral date, 823 wounds were documented. The wound classes assessed included pressure ulcers, malignant wounds, skin tears, venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and arterial leg/foot ulcers. Proportions of patients showing complete healing of at least one wound were calculated, stratified by patient's survival time post‐baseline (1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months). Proportions of patients showing complete healing of at least one wound increased the longer patients lived and ranged between 12·9% and 43·5% for stage I pressure ulcers, 0% and 60% for stage II pressure ulcers, 2·4% and 100% for skin tears, 10% and 100% for venous leg ulcers and 0% and 50% for diabetic foot ulcers. Only one person showed complete healing of a stage III pressure ulcer and no complete healing was observed with stage IV pressure ulcers, unstageable pressure ulcers, malignant wounds and arterial leg/foot ulcers.     

Debridement performance index and its correlation with complete closure of diabetic foot ulcers

In recent years there has been wider acceptance of aggressive surgical debridement as a means to accelerate closure of diabetic foot ulcers. In a clinical trial by Steed et al.1 involving the use of a topically applied growth factor, thorough surgical debridement of surrounding callus, necrotic ulcer bed, and undermined ulcers' edges was associated with greater incidence of healing and effectiveness of the therapeutic agent. However, at present there is no established way to judge the appropriate extent of debridement and its performance. Here we describe a scoring system to assess whether debridement has been performed adequately. Our scoring system consists of the following three categories: debridement of a) callus; b) ulcer's edge undermining; and c) wound bed necrotic tissue. We assigned a score of 0-2 to each of these categories using the following criteria: 0 = debridement needed but not done, 1 = debridement needed and done, and 2 = debridement not needed. These three scores are then added to give a total ranging from 0 to 6, with the highest number being the optimal score. This instrument, the Debridement Performance Index, evaluates both the adequacy of debridement and whether the ulcer has been or is being properly debrided. To initiate the validation of this scoring system and determine its predictive value for wound closure by week 12, we applied it to 143 patients with diabetic foot ulcers who had been treated in a clinical trial involving either standard therapy (n = 65) or the application of a bioengineered skin construct (n = 78). We blindly evaluated sequential digital photographs of each diabetic foot ulcer and applied the Debridement Performance Index score at day 0, before initiation of either treatment. We found that the lower the baseline Debridement Performance Index the lower the incidence of ultimate wound closure by week 12 ( p = 0.0276). Patients with a Debridement Performance Index between 3 and 6 were 2.4 times more likely to heal than those with a score of 0-2. After controlling for treatment, the Debridement Performance Index was found to be an independent predictor of wound closure (odds ratio = 2.4 95% confidence interval = 1.0-5.6). In conclusion, this novel scoring system for debridement performance appears to be very promising as a predictive tool for determining outcome in clinical trials and, most likely, in clinical practice.     

Effectiveness of a honey dressing for healing pressure ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of a honey dressing vs an ethoxy-diaminoacridine plus nitrofurazone dressing in patients with pressure ulcers. DESIGN: This 5-week randomized clinical trial evaluated the effect of a honey dressing on pressure ulcer healing. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: Thirty-six patients with a total of 68 stage II or III pressure ulcers referred from a university hospital in Izmir were enrolled in the study. Twenty-six subjects completed the trial. INSTRUMENTS: Ulcers were measured with acetate tracings and Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) evaluations. METHODS: Fifteen patients with 25 pressure ulcers were treated with honey dressings, and 11 patients with 25 pressure ulcers were treated with ethoxy-diaminoacridine plus nitrofurazone dressings. Wound healing was assessed weekly using the PUSH tool, version 3.0. The primary outcome measure was the change in PUSH tool scores in each group at 5 weeks. RESULTS: The two groups were statistically similar with regard to baseline and wound characteristics. After 5 weeks of treatment, patients who were treated by honey dressing had significantly better PUSH tool scores than subjects treated with the ethoxy-diaminoacridine plus nitrofurazone dressing (6.55 +/- 2.14 vs 12.62 +/- 2.15, P < .001). CONCLUSION: By week 5, PUSH tool scores showed that healing among subjects using a honey dressing was approximately 4 times the rate of healing in the comparison group. The use of a honey dressing is effective and practical.     

Validity and feasibility of the wound‐QoL questionnaire on health‐related quality of life in chronic wounds

Chronic wounds have a major socioeconomic impact due to their frequency, chronicity, and societal costs. Patients experience substantial quality of life (QoL) impairments. The use of questionnaires for a continuous assessment of QoL and resulting interventions to improve the situation of the individual are an important cornerstone of a guideline‐based wound care. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of the Wound‐QoL questionnaire. Patients with chronic wounds from two different centers were included in the prospective study. All patients completed the Wound‐QoL and two other QoL questionnaires (European Quality of Life‐5 Dimensions, EQ‐5D, and Freiburg Life Quality Assessment for wounds, FLQA‐wk) at baseline and at two more time points (4 and 8 weeks, respectively). Wound status was defined with an anchor question. Two hundred and twenty‐seven patients (48.5% women) participated in the study. Mean age was 66.9 years (range 17–96, median 69.5). Indications were venous leg ulcers (40.1%), pyoderma gangraenosum (14.1%), diabetic or ischemic foot ulcers (5.3%), pressure ulcers (2.6%), and other etiologies (30.0%). The Wound‐QoL showed good internal consistency, with high Cronbach's alpha in all the subscales and in the global scale in all time points (>0.8). Convergent validity was satisfactory since there were significantly (p ≤ 0.001) good correlations with the EQ‐5D (range = 0.5–0.7) and FLQA‐wk global score (r > 0.8) at every time point. Responsiveness was high, too. The Wound‐QoL is a simple, valid tool for the longitudinal assessment of QoL in patients with chronic wounds. This questionnaire is suitable for use in clinical trials, quality of care studies and clinical routine.     

Clinical wound assessment using DESIGN-R total score can predict pressure ulcer healing: pooled analysis from two multicenter cohort studies

There are few clinical tools with both predictive validity for pressure ulcer healing and availability in broad populations. We evaluated whether the total scores from DESIGN-R tool could predict pressure ulcer healing. We followed 3,196 patients with pressure ulcers from two multicenter cohort studies until wound healing, patient death, or discharge. Wound severity was evaluated by DESIGN-R tool from 0 (healed) to 66 (greatest severity). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, higher DESIGN-R total scores at baseline were associated with lower healing rates (hazard ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.89-0.92), independent of the patient's characteristics, setting types, and wound depth or location. DESIGN-R had discriminative value for wound healing up to 90 days; the area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve from univariate analysis was 0.81 for healing within 30 days and 0.74 for healing within 30-90 days. The cutoff points were 9 for healing within 30 days and 18 within 30-90 days (positive and negative predictive value 78.8 and 74.1%; 63.9 and 81.1%, respectively). These points were validated for both superficial and deep ulcers. DESIGN-R can be a useful tool to predict pressure ulcer healing for a wide range of patient populations, settings, and wound locations.     

Reliability of the Bates‐Jensen wound assessment tool for pressure injury assessment: The pressure ulcer detection study

The Bates‐Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) is used to assess wound healing in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate BWAT use among nursing home residents with pressure injury. Findings and reliability estimates from the BWAT related to pressure injury characteristics (stage, anatomic location) and natural history (resolved, persisted) among 142 ethnically and racially diverse residents are reported. In this prospective 16‐week study, 305 pressure injuries among 142 participants (34% prevalence) are described by stage, anatomic location, and BWAT scores. Visual and subepidermal moisture assessments were obtained from sacrum, buttock, ischial, and heel ulcers weekly. Participants were 14% Asian, 28% Black, 18% Hispanic, 40% White with a mean age of 78 ± 14 years, and were 62% female; 80% functionally dependent (bed mobility extensive/total assistance) and at risk (Braden Scale score 14 ± 2.7). The reliability coefficient for BWAT score (all participants, all anatomic locations) was high (r = 0.90; p < 0.0001; n = 1,161 observations). Weighted Kappas for characteristics ranging from 0.46 (skin color surrounding wound) to 0.79 (undermining) were consistent for all participants. BWAT scores showed strongest agreement coefficients for stage 4 pressure injury (r = 0.69), pressure injuries among Asian and White ethnicity/racial groups (r = 0.89, and r = 0.91, respectively), and sacrum anatomic location (r = 0.92) indicating scores are better correlated to fair skin tones. Lower agreement coefficients were demonstrated for stage 2 pressure injury (r = 0.38) and pressure injuries among African American and Hispanic ethnicity/racial groups (r = 0.88 and 0.87, respectively). BWAT scores were significantly different by pressure injury stage (F = 496.7, df = 6, p < 0.001) and anatomic location (F = 33.76, df = 8, p < 0.001). BWAT score correlated with pressure injury natural history (ulcer resolved 18.4 ± 7.4, ulcer persisted 24.9 ± 10.0; F = 70.11, df = 2, p < 0.001), but not with comorbidities. The BWAT provides reliable, objective data for assessing pressure injury healing progress.     

Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule: the development of a condition-specific questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life in patients with chronic wounds of the lower limb

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire to measure the impact of chronic wounds (leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers) on patient health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and identify areas of patient concern. The Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule (CWIS) was created following a three-stage process. Stage 1 included a focus group (n=10) and a series of semi-structured interviews (n=13) to generate items for the questionnaire. Stage 2 involved piloting the 28-item questionnaire on 124 patients (64.5% with leg ulceration and 35.5% with diabetic foot ulceration): data from this stage were analysed using factor analysis. The reliability, validity and reproducibility of the resulting scale were assessed in Stage 3, a 3-month follow-up study of 135 patients in which patients completed the CWIS and the SF-36. Factor analysis identified three domains of HRQoL: physical symptoms and daily living, social life and well-being. There were no significant differences in scores across the wound types. Internal consistency was good (alpha=0.77-0.96) as was reproducibility (P<0.001). The CWIS was able to discriminate between those with healed ulcers and active ulcers (P<0.01). Construct validity was demonstrated by strong correlations between related items on CWIS and SF-36 (P<0.01-P<0.0001). The data suggest that CWIS has high internal consistency and the ability to discriminate between health states and good reproducibility. CWIS is a valid tool for studying the impact of chronic wounds of the lower leg on HRQoL. CWIS allows clinicians to identify items of patient concern, which can then be used to negotiate options of care most suited to individual patients.     

Role of glutathione redox dysfunction in diabetic wounds.

We propose that diabetic foot ulcers and diabetic mouse wounds have insufficient glutathione to maintain correct cellular redox potential. Therefore, tissue samples from the wound edge of diabetic foot ulcers, diabetic mice wounds and nondiabetic mice wounds were obtained. Levels of glutathione, cysteine, and mixed protein disulfide were determined and topical application of esterified glutathione in carboxymethylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose alone was applied to the mice wounds. Diabetic foot ulcer mean glutathione levels were 150.6 pmol/mg in the controls and 53.4 pmol/mg at the wound edge (p < 0.05), while mean cysteine levels were 22.3 pmol/mg in the control and 10.5 pmol/mg at the wound edge (p < 0.05). The mixed protein disulfide levels were elevated in the wounds (14.6 pmol/mg), but not in the control (6.9 pmol/mg) (p < 0.05). The glutathione levels were lower in the diabetic mouse wounds (155 pmol/mg) than the nondiabetic mouse wounds (205 pmol/mg) (p=0.04). The diabetic mouse treated with carboxymethylcellulose alone healed slower (19.5 +/- 2.2 days) than the nondiabetic mouse DM (11.5 +/- 0.5 days) (p < 0.001). The diabetic mouse that received topical glutathione healed significantly faster (12.5 +/- 0.8 days) than the carboxymethylcellulose-treated mice (19.5 +/- 2.2 days) (p < 0.001). Glutathione levels in the diabetic mouse (26.0 pmol/mg) were lower than in the nondiabetic mouse (311.7 pmol/mg) (p < 0.05) after glutathione treatment. In the glutathione-treated diabetic mouse, the oxidized glutathione was higher (26.7%) than in the nondiabetic mouse (9.9%) (p=0.05). These data suggest that cellular redox dysfunction and lower glutathione levels are present in diabetic foot ulcers and diabetic mouse wounds.     

Healing of diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers with human skin equivalent: a new paradigm in wound healing

HYPOTHESIS: In patients with diabetic foot and pressure ulcers, early intervention with biological therapy will either halt progression or result in rapid healing of these chronic wounds. DESIGN: In a prospective nonrandomized case series, 23 consecutive patients were treated with human skin equivalent (HSE) after excisional debridement of their wounds. SETTING: A single university teaching hospital and tertiary care center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive patients with a total of 41 wounds (1.0-7.5 cm in diameter) were treated with placement of HSE after sharp excisional debridement. All patients with pressure ulcers received alternating air therapy with zero-pressure alternating air mattresses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Time to 100% healing, as defined by full epithelialization of the wound and by no drainage from the site. RESULTS: Seven of 10 patients with diabetic foot ulcers had complete healing of all wounds. In these patients 17 of 20 wounds healed in an average of 42 days. Seven of 13 patients with pressure ulcers had complete healing of all wounds. In patients with pressure ulcers, 13 of 21 wounds healed in an average of 29 days. All wounds that did not heal in this series occurred in patients who had an additional stage IV ulcer or a wound with exposed bone. Twenty-nine of 30 wounds that healed did so after a single application of the HSE. CONCLUSIONS: In diabetic ulcers and pressure ulcers of various durations, the application of HSE with the surgical principles used in a traditional skin graft is successful in producing healing. The high success rate with complete closure in these various types of wounds suggests that HSE may function as a reservoir of growth factors that also stimulate wound contraction and epithelialization. If a wound has not fully healed after 6 weeks, a second application of HSE should be used. If the wound is not healing, an occult infection is the likely cause. All nonischemic diabetic foot and pressure ulcers that are identified and treated early with aggressive therapy (including antibiotics, off-loading of pressure, and biological therapy) will not progress.     

The efficacy of low-frequency ultrasound as an added treatment for chronic wounds: A meta-analysis

We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of low-frequency ultrasound as an added treatment for chronic wounds. A systematic literature search up to May 2022 was performed and 838 subjects with chronic wounds at the baseline of the studies; 412 of them were using the low-frequency ultrasound (225 low-frequency high-intensity contact ultrasound for diabetic foot wound ulcers, and 187 low-frequency low-intensity non-contact ultrasound for a venous leg wound ulcers), and 426 were using standard care (233 sharp debridements for diabetic foot wound ulcers and 193 sham treatments for venous leg wound ulcers). Odds ratio (OR), and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the effect of low-frequency ultrasound as an added treatment for chronic wounds using the dichotomous, and contentious methods with a random or fixed-effect model. The low-frequency high-intensity contact ultrasound for diabetic foot wound ulcers had significantly lower non-healed diabetic foot wound ulcers at ≥3 months (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.24-0.56, P < .001), a higher percentage of diabetic foot wound ulcers area reduction (MD, 17.18; 95% CI, 6.62-27.85, P = .002) compared with sharp debridement for diabetic foot wound ulcers. The low-frequency low-intensity non-contact ultrasound for a venous leg wound ulcers had a significantly lower non-healed venous leg wound ulcers at ≥3 months (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15-0.62, P = .001), and higher percentage venous leg wound ulcers area reduction (MD, 18.96; 95% CI, 2.36-35.57, P = .03) compared with sham treatments for a venous leg wound ulcers. The low-frequency ultrasound as an added treatment for diabetic foot wound ulcers and venous leg wound ulcers had significantly lower non-healed chronic wound ulcers at ≥3 months, a higher percentage of chronic wound ulcers area reduction compared with standard care. The analysis of outcomes should be with caution because of the low sample size of all the 17 studies in the meta-analysis and a low number of studies in certain comparisons.     

糖尿病足溃疡创面的综合治疗

目的：探讨如何促进糖尿病足溃疡创面愈合,降低致残率。方法：对糖尿病足溃疡患者,在积极的内科治疗稳定病情的基础上,采用以创面清创换药,改善局部血运和促进局部组织生长,或采用整形外科手术的方法治疗。结果：52例糖尿病足溃疡创面,除1例因溃疡坏疽创面较深大合并骨髓炎行截肢外,其余均顺利修复。平均随访90．4%,疗效满意率91．5%,出现溃疡复发或有新的皮肤溃疡者8．5%。结论：在全身治疗稳定病情的基础上,积极进行创面处理和整形外科手术的综合治疗是促进糖尿病足溃疡创面早期愈合,缩短病程和降低致残率切实可行的方法。重视糖尿病足患者溃疡愈合出院后的康复指导工作至关重要。     

The Long-Term Outcomes Following the Application of Intralesional Epidermal Growth Factor in Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Epidermal growth factor is used as an adjuvant to close the wound in addition to standard care in diabetic foot ulcers. This study aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes after intralesional epidermal growth factor injections in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Thirty-six feet of 34 patients (n?=?34) with diabetic foot ulcers were included. Patient demographics, Wagner classifications, recurrence and amputation rates, Foot Function Index, Short Form 36, and American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Foot and Ankle Module scores were evaluated at the final follow-up examination. The mean age was 61.000 ± 13.743 years. The mean duration of wounds was 240.200 ± 146.385 days. A mean of 18.125 ± 4.494 (range 9 to 24) doses were applied. Wound closure was achieved in 33 of the 36 (91.7%) lesions. A complete response (granulation tissue >75% or wound closure) was observed in 29 (87.9%) lesions. The mean time to wound closure was 52.08 ± 10.65 (range 25 to 72) days. At the 5-year follow-up, 4 patients were lost to follow-up because of exitus owing to diabetic complications. Of the remaining 29 patients, 27 were ulcer free. In 2 patients (2 lesions, 6.9%) toe amputation was performed due to ischemic necrosis. The mean Foot Function Index, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Foot and Ankle Core Scale, and AAOS Shoe Comfort Scale scores were 55.40 ± 12.15, 65.92 ± 17.56, and 56.42 ± 11.98, respectively. Complete wound healing and a low recurrence and amputation rates could be obtained with intralesional epidermal growth factor added to the standard treatment protocol.     

Quality of life of adults with unhealed and healed diabetic foot ulcers

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcers cause major treatment morbidity and cost of care. This study evaluated quality of life in patients with unhealed and healed diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of adult diabetic patients (age 45 years or older) treated in a tertiary care foot clinic who had foot ulcers within the preceding 2 years. Patients with other diabetic complications or conditions that would potentially affect quality of life were excluded. Two patient groups of comparable age, gender distribution, and duration of diabetes were studied: 57 patients with unhealed ulcers (minimum duration, 6 months) and 47 patients with healed ulcers. Telephone interviews were done using the Short Form 12 (SF-12) (both groups) and a Cardiff Wound Impact Scale (CWIS) (unhealed ulcer group). RESULTS: The mean SF-12 Physical Component Summary score was significantly lower for the group with unhealed ulcers (unhealed, 35 +/- 8 points; healed, 39 +/- 10 points; p = 0.04); these scores for both groups were significantly lower than published Short Form 36 (SF-36) scores for general, diabetic, and hypertensive populations. The mean SF-12 Mental Component Summary scores of the groups did not differ significantly from each other or from published population scores. CWIS responses showed that patients with unhealed ulcers were frustrated with healing and had anxiety about the wounds, resulting in marked negative impact on the average Well-being Component Score (35 +/- 6 points). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with diabetic foot ulcers experience profound compromise of physical quality of life, which is worse in those with unhealed ulcers.     

Chronic wounds and nursing care

This study has collated data on the prevalence of chronic wounds and the demography of patients with these wounds. Diagnostic methods, nursing care, the presence of diabetes and pain are analysed, as well as data on healing, amputation and mortality three months post-study. A total of 694 patients were identified: 406 with leg or foot ulcers, 117 with pressure ulcers and 171 with other wounds. Most patients were treated in the community. Leg ulcer aetiology was verified with ultrasound Doppler examination. There was a correlation between low Norton score (< 20) and severity of pressure ulcer (Stage III or IV). The use of 113 different wound dressings or combinations of products was reported. Time spent on dressing changes was the equivalent of full-time employment for 57 nurses. Wound cleansing was not predominantly performed with tap water, as recommended, but with saline. Almost all patients with venous leg ulcers (88%) were treated with compression but in 35% of these support stockings were used. Pain was present in almost half of all patients, more commonly in Stage III or IV pressure ulcers than in Stages I and II, and was most often reported in older patients. Diabetes was present in 25% of all patients with leg and pressure ulcers, and in 57% of patients with foot ulcers. At three-month follow-up, 28% of pressure ulcers, 40% of leg ulcers and 61% of other wounds had healed. Mortality was 35% in patients with pressure ulcers, 4% in those with leg ulcers and 7% in those with foot ulcers. These data have been presented to politicians in the county, resulting in allocation of resources for a wound healing centre.