Wound Care and Limb Salvage
Diabetic Foot Management
One in five diabetics in the UAE suffer from some form of diabetic foot disease, primarily due to the time it takes a patient to seek expert medical advice; the earlier professional help is sought, the more likely a favourable outcome is realised without the need for amputation. Diabetics are prone to foot problems due to prolonged periods of high blood sugar levels as a result of their disease.
Diabetics may experience one of the following problems:
Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic Neuropathy occurs when high blood sugar (Glucose) levels damage nerves throughout the body, most often in the legs and feet. This can result in numbness, and the loss of sensation can make it difficult to feel any wounds that may occur and eventually get infected.
Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
Diabetes leads to changes in the blood vessels, including both veins and arteries. PVD is a disorder that causes blood vessels to narrow, block or spasm. Reduced blood flow can lead to pain and fatigue in your legs, and any injury will take longer to heal. If proper foot care is not carried out, ulcers can develop and wounds may get infected, which could lead to the loss of the whole or part of a limb.
In order to minimise your risk for diabetic foot problems, adequate foot care should be taken. Minimise the risk of long term damage to your health and seek professional help immediately if any of the following symptoms are noticed:
Numbness, a loss of feeling or a tingly sensation
Blisters or other painless wounds
Skin discolouration or temperature changes
Red streaks
Wounds with or without drainage
Staining on socks
Painful tingling
A range of surgical and non-surgical methods are available for the treatment of diabetic foot. The earlier a diagnosis is made and treatment rendered, the better the outcome can be for the patient.
Negative pressure wound therapy has been hugely successful in diabetic foot treatment, through the use of VAC dressings which use sub-atmospheric pressure to seal the wound with the use of a vacuum pump.
Chronic Leg Ulcers
A chronic leg ulcer is a wound below the knee that shows no tendency to heal after 3 months of treatment. Leg ulcers are usually caused by a break or cut in the skin around bony areas, such as the ankles. Risk factors for leg ulcers include age, smoking, obesity and diabetes, whilst the cause of leg ulcers include venous disease, arterial disease, or neuropathy (disease or dysfunction of one or more of the peripheral nerves).
A chronic leg ulcer will typically exhibit the following symptoms:
Rash or dry skin, itching
Brown discolouration
An unpleasant/foul smelling liquid coming from the injury
If you suffer from any of the following symptoms, the ulcer may have become infected and you should immediately contact a vascular specialist:
Redness or swelling around the skin
Increasing pain
Fever
Pus
Our Wound Care Unit has extensive experience in the treatment of leg ulcers. The symptoms are treated through compression therapy, whilst the underlying cause is addressed to prevent further ulcers from developing.