• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.81-91
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate foot ulcer risk factors, foot care knowledge, and foot care practice in patients with type 2 diabetes. Method: One hundred fifty type 2 diabetic patients were in and out-patients in a large urban hospital. The data were collected using a self-report questionnaire, chart review and foot examination. The questionnaires were developed by the researchers through the experts consultation and literature review. High risk for foot ulcer was evaluated by peripheral neuropathy(PN), peripheral vascular disease(PVD), and prior foot ulcer. Foot risk scores(FRS) means numbers of present risk factors. Results: 31.3% of subjects show 1 FRS, and 13.3% showed 2 FRS. Mean foot care frequency was 3.5 times per week. There were significant differences in foot care knowledge according to DM education (t=2.96, p=.004) and foot care education (t=3.65, p=.001). There were significant differences in the foot care practice activities according to duration of DM (t=3.48, p=.010) and educational levels. Conclusion: There were high proportion of foot ulcer risk among the patients. It is necessary to screen high risk foot ulcer patients and provide practical education for foot care practice of diabetic patients.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2001

Diabetic foot ulcer is a serious complication which result from long-standing diabetes. Especially, severe infected diabetic foot ulcer results in unwanted lower extremity amputation. The diabetic patient is considered the relative contraindication for microsurgery because of the severe peripheral vascular disease. Recently, microvascular free tissue transfer technique applied to diabetic foot ulcer. It is well known that free tissue transfer provides immediate soft tissue coverage and control of infection. So it is possible that preservation of the lower extremity through free tissue transfer. A retrospective study of diabetic patients who had infected foot ulcer from 1999 to 2000 with foot defects reconstructed with free tissue transfer were reviewed. Thirteen patients were studied with mean follow-up of 12.7 months. There were two deaths during follow-up period. There were two failures after free flap surgery. All eleven survived patients were ambulatory. There was no recurrence of ulcer. No patient need amputation above the ankle joint. We have found that free tissue transfer for infected diabetic foot ulcer is very effective surgical technique. Careful patient selection and regular follow-up is important.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.187-191
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• 2022

The author experienced a case of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) affecting the recovery of a chronic neuropathic diabetic foot ulcer combined with infection. A 65-year-aged male with uncontrolled diabetes presented with a Wagner grade 2 diabetic foot ulcer on his left forefoot of more than 2 weeks duration. Osteomyelitis, gangrene, and ischemia requiring acute intervention were absent. Although infection was controlled to a moderate degree, wound healing was unsatisfactory following surgical debridement and simple dressing. Therefore, intralesional autologous PRP injection was performed 5 times as an adjuvant regeneration therapy, and the recalcitrant ulcer healed in 3 months. Intralesional PRP injections are worthwhile as they promote wound regeneration, are evidence-based, safe, and can be easily performed in ambulatory care facilities.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.134-138
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• 2008

Purpose: In a diabetic foot ulcer, superficial fungal infection of the foot may disrupt the skin integrity and provide an avenue for bacterial infection. The prevalence of fungal infection in diabetic foot ulcer has been reported as 12-30% in Caucasian patients. However, no data are available for Korean patients. The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of fungal infection in diabetic foot patients admitted in our clinic. Methods: This study included consecutive 30 diabetic foot ulcer patients(24 males and 6 females) admitted from May 2007 to July 2007. The mean age was 60.5 years. All patients underwent mycological examination including direct microscopic examination in KOH and culturing on slants and tubes with Sabouraud's glucose agar. Results: Clinical signs of presumed fungal infection, which were examined by dermatologists, were found in all patients included in this study. Direct microscopic examination was positive for the specimens of the skin and the toenails in 28(93.3%) and 25(83.3%) patients, respectively. In addition, culture result was positive for the specimens of the skin and the toenails in 5(16.73%) and 7(23.3%) patients, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of fungal infection in diabetic foot ulcer patients admitted in our clinic is much higher than that in Caucasian patients(83.3-93.3% vs 12-30%).

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2014

Amputation of diabetic foot ulcer and infection is a critical modality for saving a patient's life from life threatening infections or ischemic limbs. However, it can cause serious handicaps or complications, such as lifetime shortening and re-amputation of the other limb. The minimal amputation is the main goal of amputation in diabetic patients. However, insufficient amputation can have a harmful effect on patients. The decision of amputation is very difficult and should be made using multidisciplinary approaches. All aspects of the patient's situation, including vascular status, degree of infection, and medical conditions should be considered. The foot surgeon should keep in mind the notion that proper amputation can lead to a new life for diabetic foot patients.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.232-239
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• 2011

Purpose: Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most important diabetic complications because it increases the risk of amputations. Moreover, it lowers the quality of patients' life and increases the social medical expenses. Authors analyzed risk factors of intractable diabetic foot ulcer using retrospective study. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to December 2010, 40 patients who could not achieve complete healing despite more than 12 weeks of proper management among who had been diagnosed and treated as diabetic foot ulcer at our hospital were included and evaluated retrospectively. We compared the risk factors between two groups who were finally treated by amputation and non-amputation. Results: The sample was composed of 31 male patients (77.5%) and 9 female patients (22.5%). Comorbidity including hypertension and hyperlipidemia were 77.5% and 80% each. By Wagner classification, 30 patients (80%) had ulcerative lesion over the grade 3. From bacteriology results, 29 patients (72.5%) had polybacteria infection. 35 patients (87.5%) had neuropathy and 26 patients (65%) had vascular stenosis at least one level. The mean initial ankle-brachial index and toe-brachial index were 0.982 and 0.439. In comparison between amputation group and non-amputation group, ulcer severity, number of stenotic vessel and initial ankle-brachial index/toe-brachial index had statistical significance. Conclusion: The most commonly risk factor of intractable diabetic foot ulcer was peripheral neuropathy reaching 87.5% of cases. In comparison with non-amputation group, ulcer severity according to Wagner classification, number of stenotic vessel and initial ankle-brachial index/toe-brachial index were demonstrated as a risk factor of amputation in intractable diabetic foot ulcer.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.121-125
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• 2016

Purpose: This study investigates the amputation rate within 1 year after the diagnosis of diabetic foot ulcer and its associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: This study enrolled 60 patients with diabetic foot ulcer. The mean and standard deviation age was $64.4{\pm}12.8years$ (range, 32~89 years); the mean and standard deviation prevalence period for diabetes mellitus was $21.0{\pm}7.5years$ (range, 0.5~36 years). The amputation rate was evaluated by dividing the subjects into two groups - the major and minor amputation groups - within 1 year following the initial diagnosis of diabetic foot ulcer. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for amputation. Results: The total amputation rate of 38.3% (n=23) was comprised of the amputation rate for the major amputation group (10.0%) and rate for the minor amputation group (23.8%). There was a high correlation between peripheral artery disease (toe brachial pressure index <0.7) and amputation (hazard ratio [HR] 5.81, confidence interval [CI] 2.09~16.1, p<0.01). Nephropathy was significantly correlated with the amputation rate (HR 3.53, CI 1.29~9.64, p=0.01). Conclusion: Clinicians who treat patients with diabetic foot complications must understand the fact that the amputation rate within 1 year is significant, and that the amputation rate of patients with peripheral artery disease or nephropathy is especially high.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of self-home dressing with nanocrystalline silver dressing method on the treatment of chronic ulcer wounds of the foot. Material and Methods: One hundred-nine patients with chronic foot ulcer due to various causes were treated with nanocrystalline silver dressing material. Dressing was done by themselves in their home. Dressing changes were performed every 2 to 3 days until complete reepithelization. Results: One hundred two cases of all cases had a complete reepithelization. It took 49 days to have a complete reepithelization on average. Seven cases failed to complete reepithelization because of infection. There was no silver intoxication in any cases. Conclusion: Using nanocrystalline silver is a useful dressing method for various superficial chronic ulcer and it can be done by themselves at their home. Thus it is considered to be more comfortable to both patients and doctors.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.314-320
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• 2020

Background: A diabetic foot is the most common cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations (LEA). The study seeks to assess the risk factors of amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Methods: The study was conducted on 351 patients with DFUs from January 2010 to December 2018. Their demographic characteristics, disease history, laboratory data, ankle-brachial index, Wagner classification, osteomyelitis, sarcopenia index, and ulcer sizes were considered as variables to predict outcome. A chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to test the relationship of the data gathered. Additionally, the subjects were divided into two groups based on their amputation surgery. Results: Out of the 351 subjects, 170 required LEA. The mean age of the subjects was 61 years and the mean duration of diabetes was 15 years; there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of these averages. Osteomyelitis (hazard ratio [HR], 6.164; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.561-10.671), lesion on percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (HR, 2.494; 95% CI, 1.087-5.721), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.981-0.999), ulcer size (HR, 1.247; 95% CI, 1.107-1.405), and forefoot ulcer location (HR, 2.475; 95% CI, 0.224-0.73) were associated with risk of amputation. Conclusion: Osteomyelitis, peripheral artery disease, chronic kidney disease, ulcer size, and forefoot ulcer location were risk factors for amputation in diabetic foot patients. Further investigation would contribute to the establishment of a diabetic foot risk stratification system for Koreans, allowing for optimal individualized treatment.