• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.196-206
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was done to use a guideline adaptation process to develop a Korean evidence-based diabetic foot care clinical practice guideline for diabetic foot prevention and management. Methods: The guideline adaptation process was conducted according to the guideline adaptation manual developed by the National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency. The process consists of three main phases, with 9 modules including a total of 23 steps. Results: The newly developed diabetic foot care clinical practice guideline consisted of an introduction, description of diabetic foot, summary of recommendations, recommendations, references, appendices, and glossary. There were 165 recommendations in 4 sections (risk assessment for diabetic foot ulcers, prevention of diabetic foot ulcers, wound assessment of diabetic foot ulcers, and management of the diabetic foot). In grading by recommendations, for A there were 30 (18.2%), B, 8 (4.8%), C, 30 (18.2%) D, 97 (58.8%). Conclusion: This guideline can be used as educational material for healthcare workers and diabetic patients. It can also be utilized as a practice guideline for healthcare workers in the hospital and community setting.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to present the clinical analysis of the results of lateral arm free flap for small sized and infected diabetic foot ulcer around toes. From May 2006 to December 2007, Seven patients were included in our study. Average age was 52.8 years, six were males and one was female. All had infected diabetic foot ulcer and had exposures of bone or tendon structures. Ulcers were located around great toe in four patients, 4th toe in one and 5th toe in two. Three patients had osteomyelitis of metatarsal or phalanx. After appropriate control of infection by serial wound debridement and intravenous antibiotics, lateral arm flap was applied to cover remained soft tissue defects. Posterior radial collateral artery of lateral arm flap was reanastomosed to dorsalis pedis artery of recipient foot by end to side technique in all cases in order to preserve already compromised artery of diabetic foot. All flaps were designed over lateral epicondyle to get longer pedicle and averaged pedicle length was 8 cm. Two cases were used as a sensate flap to achieve protective sensation of foot. All flaps survived and provided satisfactory coverage of soft tissue defects on diabetc foot ulcers. All patients could achieve full weight-bearing ambulation. No patients has had recurrence of infection, ulceration and further toe amputations. There were three complications, a delayed wound healing of flap with surrounding tissue, a partial peripheral loss of flap and a numbness of forearm below donor site. All patients were satisfied with their clinical results, especially preserving their toes and could return to the previous activity levels. Lateral arm free flap could be recommend for infected diabetic foot ulcers around toes, to preserve toes, coverage of soft tissue defect and control of infection with low donor site morbidity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.198-204
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• 2006

Many clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of the platelet releasate or the platelet gel on chronic wounds. However, the patient's own blood had to be aspirated and processed to make the platelet releasate or a platelet gel. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of platelet concentrates from the blood bank for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. To obtain the basic data of the PDGF-BB content in platelet concentrates supplied from the blood bank, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay quantification was performed. On average, 8.5 pg of the PDGF-BB was released per 1 million platelets. Sixteen patients with diabetic foot ulcers ranging from 1.0 to $18.0cm^2$(mean, $6.1cm^2$) in size were treated. The platelet concentrates was centrifuged and the precipitantte was mixed with 1 ml of fibrinogen. The platelets and fibrinogen mixture was dispersed on to the ulcer lesions. The liquid platelet and fibrinogen mixture was then sealed using 0.3-1.0 ml of thrombin and moisture dressing was performed. The procedure was repeated every one or two weeks until wound closure. Time required for complete healing ranged from 3 to 12 weeks after treatment (mean, 7.3 weeks). Patient satisfaction was also very positive. In this study, the use of platelet concentrates from the blood bank was found to be effective in treating diabetic foot ulcers.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2023

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are among the most serious complications of diabetes and are a source of reduced quality of life and financial burden for the people involved. For effective DFU management, an evidence-based treatment strategy that considers the patient's clinical context and wound condition is required. This treatment strategy should include conventional practices (surgical debridement, antibiotics, vascular assessment, offloading, and amputation) coordinated by interdisciplinary DFU experts. In addition, several adjuvant therapies can be considered for nonhealing wounds. In this narrative review, we aim to highlight the current trends in DFU management and review the up-to-date guidelines.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

Purpose: Diabetic foot infection is one of the most common and severe complications of diabetes mellitus that delays healing of the wound. Deep tissue biopsy is considered to be the gold standard method for antibiotic selection in treating infected chronic diabetic ulcers. However, swab culture or superficial tissue biopsy is often performed for a microbiologic test since deep tissue biopsy has limitations in application. The purpose of this study is to find out whether microbiologic results of swab culture or superficial tissue biopsy could be used for selection of antibiotics in treating diabetic ulcers. Methods: This study involved 42 patients with diabetic foot ulcers with negative results in bone probing test. Tissue samples for microbiologic tests were collected from all the patients by using superficial cotton swab, superficial tissue, and deep tissue. The microbiologic results of deep tissue biopsy were compared with swab culture and superficial tissue biopsy statistically. Results: Microbiology of the deep tissue showed the same results with those of the swab culture and superficial tissue in 67% and 71%, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the microbiology of the swab culture and superficial tissue does not coincide with that of the deep tissue. Conclusion: These results suggest that the microbiology of the swab culture and superficial tissue is not concordant with that of the deep tissue in infected chronic diabetic ulcers. To select appropriate antibiotic regimen, the speci specimen for the microbiologic test should be obtained from deep tissue.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of hyaluronic acid based autologous dermal fibroblasts (Hyalograft 3D) in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Methods: A total of 28 patients with diabetic ulcers were randomized to either the control group with nonadherent foam dressings(n=14) or the treatment group with autologous tissue - engineered grafts(n=14). Weekly assessment contained vital sign checks, ulcer size measurements, and wound photos. At 12th week, percentages of complete wound healing and mean healing times were compared. Safety was also monitored by adverse events. Results: Complete wound healing was achieved in 84.6% of the treatment group and 23.1% of the control group (p<0.005). The mean times of closures for the treatment versus control groups were 6.1 weeks and 10.9 weeks, respectively. No adverse events related to the study treatment occurred. Conclusion: The use of hyaluronic acid based autologous fibroblast grafts was found to be a safe and effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.491-494
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• 2008

Purpose: When deciding a treatment plan in diabetic foot ulcer patients, predicting a possibility of healing wounds is important since not a few patients have poor general condition to get successful wound healing. This study was planned to find out if a serum collagen level can be used as a predictor for healing wounds in diabetic foot patients. Methods: Fifty-seven patients, who visited our clinic from January to June, 2007 for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, were included in this study. Serum levels of type I collagen were checked using carboxy terminal type I propeptide kits. Simultaneously serum levels of vitamin C and iron, cofactors of collagen synthesis, were checked. The patients were divided into two groups; a group of successfully healed wounds and the other of unhealed wounds. Serum levels of the parameters were compared between the 2 groups. Results: The serum level of collagen was $197.65{\pm}86.26ng/ml$ in a healed group and $87.91{\pm}28.76ng/ml$ in the unhealed group(p<0.05). The serum iron and vitamin C levels were did not show significant differences. Conclusion: The serum collagen level may predict healing or nonhealing wounds in diabetic foot ulcers.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.782-784
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• 2022

Diabetic foot ulcers are a severe complication of diabetes, and their management requires a multidisciplinary approach for optimal management. When treating these ulcers, limb salvage remains the ultimate goal. In this article, we present the "hanging" free flap for the reconstruction of chronic lower extremity diabetic ulcers. This two-staged approach involves standard free flap harvest and inset; however, following inset the "hanging" pedicle is covered within a skin graft instead of making extraneous incisions within the undisturbed soft tissues or tunnels that can compress the vessels. After incorporation, a second-stage surgery is performed in 4 to 6 weeks which entails pedicle division, flap inset revision, and end-to-end reconstruction of the recipient vessel. Besides decreasing the number of incisions on diabetic patients, our novel technique utilizing the "hanging" pedicle simplifies flap monitoring and inset and allows reconstruction of recipient vessels to reestablish distal blood flow.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.495-500
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• 2008

Purpose: Adequate tissue oxygenation is considered as an essential factor for wound healing. In the non-diabetic population, an uncompromised macrocirculation generally leads to adequate tissue oxygenation. On the contrary, the macrocirculation in diabetic patients may not correlate with tissue oxygenation because of structural changes in the capillary basement membrane. Nevertheless, many medical professionals in Korea rely on macrocirculation evaluation when predicting wound healing potential of the diabetic ulcers. The purpose of this study is to compare reliability of two common macrocirculation assessment methods, Doppler probing and CT angiography, on tissue oxygenation in diabetic foot patients. Methods: Doppler and CT angiography scores were given according to the patency of the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. Tissue oxygenation was measured by transcutaneous partial oxygen tension($TcpO_2$). Doppler and CT angiography scores were statistically analyzed against $TcpO_2$ values. Sixty-eight diabetic foot ulcer patients were included in this study. Results: The test was carried out on Doppler score and $TcpO_2$ variables displayed a p-value of 0.0202, and concluded that the two variables were statistically dependent. The test used to determine for linear trends between Doppler scores and $TcpO_2$ variables displayed a p-value of 0.0149, displaying statistical linear trend between the two variables. On the contrary, the tests between CT angiography scores and $TcpO_2$ variables showed p-values of 0.1242 and 0.6590, that means no correlation between CT angiography and $TcpO_2$ scores. Conclusion: Doppler probing is more reliable than CT angiography in predicting tissue oxygenation of diabetic foot ulcers.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.78-81
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• 2018

This paper presents a case of an early malignant transformation of untreated ulcers in a patient with diabetes. This case shows that Marjolin's ulcer can occur not only after chronic injury, but can also develop in the early stages after the onset. Hence, an early biopsy for diabetic foot ulcers that fail to heal with acute treatment can enable an earlier diagnosis and treatment without amputation, resulting in a better quality of life for the patient.