Optimizing Diabetic Foot Ulcer Care: Four Steps to Save Limbs Worldwide
Keck Medicine of USC outlines a comprehensive, four-step approach to diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) management, aiming to reduce the global incidence of lower-limb amputations. This strategy emphasizes early detection, interdisciplinary care, and patient empowerment to enhance outcomes for individuals with diabetes.
1. Establishing a “Hot Foot Line”: A dedicated hotline facilitates rapid triage of patients presenting with diabetic foot infections or ischemia, ensuring immediate assessment by a specialized limb-salvage team. This prompt intervention can significantly decrease the risk of major amputations.
2. Developing Wound-Healing Clinics: Specialized outpatient clinics focus on active tissue loss, employing advanced modalities such as total contact casting, vascular diagnostics, and surgical debridement. These clinics aim to expedite healing and reduce hospitalization rates.
3. Establishing Remission Clinics: Post-healing, remission clinics work to prevent ulcer recurrence through patient education, biomechanical evaluations, and preventive interventions. Tools like pressure-relieving footwear and thermal monitoring devices are utilized to maintain ulcer-free periods.
4. Implementing Screening Clinics: Annual foot screenings assess risk factors like neuropathy and peripheral artery disease. Early identification allows for timely referrals to appropriate care pathways, including remission or wound-healing clinics, thereby preventing the progression to limb-threatening conditions.
This model has demonstrated success at Keck Medicine of USC and is adaptable to various healthcare settings globally. By integrating these steps, healthcare systems can proactively manage chronic conditions, ultimately saving limbs and improving quality of life for patients with diabetes.
Read the full article on the Keck Medicine of USC website.
Keywords:
Diabetic foot ulcers,
Foot ulcer care,
Limb salvage,
Amputation prevention,
Keck Medicine of USC,
David G. Armstrong