The Impact of an Aggressive Clinic-Based Diabetic Foot Protocol: A Single-Center Case Series
Summary: In this July 2025 case series published in *Wounds*, Qing Jia, MD; Xiaojing Yin, MD; Wen Qin, MD; and Jiaojiao Bai, PhD report outcomes of implementing a four-step wound hygiene protocol for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) at a multidisciplinary clinic in Shanghai. Over 12 weeks, the team achieved an 80% complete healing rate in 20 patients, with the remainder showing significant improvement. Pain, exudate, and wound area all improved significantly (p < 0.001).
Protocol Details:
- Cleansing: Debridement and irrigation using povidone-iodine followed by saline.
- Debridement: Sharp removal of necrotic tissue 1–2 times weekly.
- Wound Edge Refashioning: Optimized margins to support healing.
- Dressing: Application of Aquacel Ag+ Extra antimicrobial dressing, capped with cotton gauze.
Outcomes: Mean wound area reduction was 95.1%, with a healing rate of 1.32 cm²/week. The average time to closure for healed wounds was 56.4 days. No serious adverse events were reported.
Conclusion: Applying a structured wound hygiene protocol in a clinic setting can produce rapid and robust healing in DFUs. To expand access, there’s a pressing need for widespread training and scalable care models.
🔗 Read the full case series on Wounds Journal
Keywords: wound hygiene protocol, diabetic foot ulcers, Qing Jia, Xiaojing Yin, Wen Qin, Jiaojiao Bai, wound cleansing, multidisciplinary clinic