Comparison Between the Efficacy of Spinal Cord Stimulation and of Endovascular Revascularization in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Retrospective Observational Study.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the effects of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) with those of endovascular revascularization on the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 104 patients with diabetic foot ulcers who met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed and classified to the SCS treatment group (n = 46) and endovascular revascularization treatment group (n = 46). The quality-of-life scores (Quality of Life Scale for Patients with Liver Cancer v2.0), visual pain analog scale score, lower limb skin temperature, lower limb arterial ultrasound results, and lower extremity electromyography results were analyzed to compare the efficacy of the two treatments for diabetic foot ulcers in the two groups before surgery and six months after surgery. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients (men 73.9%, mean age 66.51 ± 11.67 years) completed the six-month postoperative follow-up period. The patients in the SCS treatment group had a higher quality-of-life score (25.54% vs 13.77%, p < 0.05), a larger reduction in pain scores (69.18% vs 37.21%, p < 0.05), and a larger reduction in foot temperature (18.56% vs 7.24%, p < 0.05) than those of the endovascular revascularization treatment group at six months after surgery. The degree of vasodilation in the lower limbs on color Doppler arterial ultrasound and the nerve conduction velocity were higher in the SCS treatment group than in the endovascular revascularization treatment group at six months after surgery (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SCS was more effective than endovascular revascularization in improving quality of life, relieving pain, improving lower limb skin temperature, increasing lower limb blood flow, and improving nerve conduction in patients with diabetic foot ulcers at six months after surgery.