• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.109-112
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• 2009

Calciphylaxis is a rare disease that appear in patients with secondary hyper-parathyroidism or chronic renal failure or that show defect in calcium phosphate metabolism which is characterized by fibrin deposit or calcification of medial wall of vessels causing gradual ischemic skin necrosis. Calciphylaxis is a disease with poor prognosis as skin necrosis can progress rapidly. If left untreated, calciphylaxis will progress to sepsis with high mortality. The treatment is controversial but kidney transplantation or parathyroidectomy is suggested to recover calcium-phosphate metabolism. The authors have experienced calciphylaxis in a patient with chronic renal failure caused by DM nephropathy with characteristic skin lesion and rapid skin necrosis. We describe this case with documentary reviews.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical manifestations, the patterns and the functional outcome of the amputations due to the diabetic foot complications. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients (50 feet) of diabetic foot amputations were followed for more than 1 year. The mean age was 62.5 years, and the mean follow-up period was 46 months. Retrospective analysis was performed using chart review and interview with the patients. The outcome was assessed with modified AOFAS scale. Results: The diabetic foot lesions were infection in 45 feet, gangrene in 35 feet and ulcer in 15 feet. Toe amputation was most commonly performed procedure (23 cases) followed by below knee and ray amputation. Postoperative modified AOFAS score was average 51.5 points, and 94% were satisfied with outcome. Minor amputations showed better outcome than the major amputations. Conclusion: Overall postoperative functional outcome was encouraging with high patient satisfaction rate (94%). Better outcome was obtained with the minor amputations.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.108-115
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• 2012

Purpose: To evaluate several risk factors related to re-ulceration of diabetic foot including psychosocial aspects such as familial support and degree of independence of patients' activity. Materials and Methods: We reviewed medical records and performed telephone interview with eighty-five patients who had a history of hospitalization in our hospital due to diabetic foot ulceration from year 2002 to 2010. Based on the collected data, we analyzed several factors such as age, gender, prevalence duration, accompanying diseases, HbA1c level, degree of independence and familial support. Results: The mean age was 61.4 years and most common in the 4th decade. There were 57 cases (67%) of recurrence, predominance of male. Eleven patients with recurrent diabetic foot ulceration had undergone major amputations. Psychosocial problems such as depression, insufficient familial support and mortality were more frequently observed in recurrent group. Conclusion: This study shows that psychosocial factor such as familial support for patient with diabetic foot could be important to reduce the recurrence rate of diabetic foot ulceration. Therefore, we should pay attention to strategic plans for prevention, screening, treatment, and aftercare through the prospective studies including psychosocial risk factor in diabetic foot ulceration.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the possible risk factors of lower extremity amputations in diabetic foot patients. Materials and Methods: The study is based on 37 patients who received lower extremity amputations from April, 1997 to February 2005 due to diabetic foot complications with at least 1 year follow up. As for the control group, 49 diabetes patients who had been treated at the endocrinology department for at least 1 year without any diabetic foot complication were evaluated. As for the possible risk factors, age, gender, duration of diabetes mellitus, body mass index, Hb A1c, blood glucose level, total cholesterol, s-creatinine, C-peptide, smoking, alcohol, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, CVA, retinopathy and neuropathy were investigated. Results: Among the possible risk factors evaluated, age, Hb A1c, smoking, neuropathy and blood glucose level factors showed statistically significant difference between the diabetic amputation and the control group. Conclusion: In reducing the risk of the lower extremity amputations in the diabetic patients due to diabetic foot complications, strict control of blood glucose level and cessation of smoking were found to be utmost important.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the results of anterolateral thigh perforator free flap for reconstruction of foot and ankle in old diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Fifteen diabetic foot ulcer patients over the age of 55 were operated with anterolateral thigh perforator free flap. Hematological, hemodynamic, diabetic, bacteriologic and radiologic tests were checked with examination of blood vessel state in both the donor site and the recipient site. After surgery, serial check-up was performed at 6 week, 6 month, and 1 year postoperatively on the survival of transplantation tissue, condition of foot, and condition of walking. Results: There are one case of transplantation failure and four cases of partial tissue-necrosis. Delayed wound-healing was observed both recipient and donor tissue sites. At the final follow up, three cases of small ulcer were found at junction of flap and recipient tissue in plantar area. Fourteen out of fifteen patients could walk without any brace or walking aids. Conclusion: Reconstruction of foot and ankle region in old diabetic patients with the anterolateral thigh perforator free flap is a useful method which can prevent the amputation of foot and ankle.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2014

In patients with diabetic foot, ulceration and amputation are the most serious consequences and can lead to morbidity and disability. Peripheral arterial sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, and foot deformities are major causes of foot problems. Foot deformities, following autonomic and motor neuropathy, lead to development of over-pressured focal lesions causing the diabetic foot to be easily injured within the shoe while walking. Wound healing in these patients can be difficult due to impaired phagocytic activity, malnutrition, and ischemia. Correction of deformity or shoe modification to relieve the pressure of over-pressured points is necessary for ulcer management. Application of selective dressings that allow a moist environment following complete debridement of the necrotic tissue is mandatory. In the case of a large soft tissue defect, performance of a wound coverage procedure by either a distant flap operation or a skin graft is necessary. Patients with a Charcot joint should be stabilized and consolidated into a plantigrade foot. The bony prominence of a Charcot foot can be corrected by a bumpectomy in order to prevent ulceration. The most effective management of the diabetic foot is ulcer prevention: controlling blood sugar levels and neuropathic pain, smoking cessation, stretching exercises, frequent examination of the foot, and appropriate education regarding footwear.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.684-689
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• 2004

One of the serious long-tenn complications of diabetes mellitus is the diabetic foot lesion. Diabetic foot lesions are a major cause of morbidity, mortality, disability in patients with diabetes and frequent cause of lower-extremity amputations. The treatment of diabetic foot lesions is based on the strict control of diabetes mellitus. A patient with diabetic foot lesions was treated with Cheunhwasangamibang and improvement was seen. Results in this case support a role for Cheunhwasangamibang in controlling diabetes mellitus, and are here reported to encourage further study.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.437-448
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was a retrospective survey to examine economic feasibility of home care services for patients with diabetic foot. Methods: The participants were 33 patients in the home care services (HC) group and 27 in the non-home care services (non-HC) group, all of whom were discharged early after inpatient treatment. Data were collected from medical records. Direct medical costs were calculated using medical fee payment data. Cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated using direct medical costs paid by the patient and the insurer until complete cure of the diabetic foot. Effectiveness was the time required for a complete cure. Direct medical costs included fees for hospitalization, emergency care, home care, ambulatory fees, and hospitalization or ambulatory fees at other medical institutions. Results: Mean for direct medical costs was 11,118,773 won per person in the HC group, and 16,005,883 won in the non-HC group. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p=.042). Analysis of the results for cost-effectiveness ratio showed 91,891 won per day in the HC patients, and 109,629 won per day in the non-HC patients. Conclusion: Result shows that the cost-effectiveness ratio is lower HC patients than non-HC patients, that indicates home care services are economically feasible.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate treatment types and the status of referral to home care services for patients with diabetic foot. Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted by reviewing medical records from January to December in 2008 at a university hospital. The subjects were 76 patients at the age of 20 years or older who were admitted, had home care services, or received outpatient care for diabetic foot. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among the total of 9,317 patients diagnosed with diabetes, 5.03% (n=469) had diabetic foot. Admission (81.6%) was the most frequently used treatment type followed by outpatient care only (7.9%) and hemodialysis only (10.5%). Of the 76 admission cases, 44.9% received post-discharge care at outpatient clinics, 20.5% had both outpatient and home care services, and 16.7% were transferred to other hospitals. Readmission rate after discharge was 15.6% for one year. Conclusion: This study suggests referral to home care services should be encouraged to provide effective follow-up care to patients with diabetic foot after discharge from a hospital.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.216-220
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• 2007

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) below the knee as a treatment in diabetic foot gangrene. Materials and Methods: Between May 2003 and May 2006, angiography was performed in 35 diabetic foot gangrene classified as either Wagner grade IV or V. Infrapopliteal PTA was performed in 10 patients among them. Clinical success was defined as prevention of major amputation. Results: Among 25 patients who did not receive infrapopliteal PTA, the major amputation rate is 22% (in one arterial occlusion cases), 50% (in two arterial occlusion cases), 63% (in three arterial occlusion cases), respectively. Infrapopliteal PTA was successfully performed in 8 among 10 patients. Two patients were failed and undergone below-knee amputation. Toe amputation were performed in 2 patients with one arterial occlusion. Out of 6 patients with three arterial occlusions, toe amputations were performed in 4 patients and the other 2 patients were healed through debridement. Conclusion: As a first choice revascularization procedure for limb salvage in diabetic foot gangrene, infrapopliteal PTA can be one of treatment options.