Caracterización clínica y microbiológica de pacientes con pie diabético que requieren hospitalización en alta complejidad. Serie de casos / Clinical and microbiological profile of patients with diabetic foot requiring admission to a high complexity hospital. Case Series

Introducción El pie diabético infectado es una complicación frecuente de la diabetes y un marcador de deterioro del paciente. Existe escasa información en Colombia sobre características de los pacientes que ingresan a los servicios de urgencias de alta complejidad con esta patología y desenlaces como amputación y perfil microbiológico. Materiales y Métodos Serie de casos de pacientes que ingresaron al servicio de urgencias del Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe con motivo de consulta principal pie diabético infectado. Se analizaron las historias clínicas de manera retrospectiva y se utilizaron herramientas de estadística descriptiva para la caracterización de la población y de variables relacionadas con diagnóstico, tratamiento y resultados tempranos intrahospitalarios. Resultados Entre enero de 2009 y diciembre de 2013 ingresaron 118 pacientes con 145 úlceras infectadas por pie diabético, el 90% con HbAc>6.5, el 52% con disfunción renal, el 51% con enfermedad arterial periférica. El 57% tenía úlceras grado 3 o mayor en la clasificación de Wagner, la infección fue polimicrobiana en el 63%. El 58% requirió amputación, el 62% de las amputaciones fueron amputaciones menores. La mortalidad fue del 10%, la mortalidad atribuible a infección del pie diabético o complicaciones derivadas de la amputación fue del 1,7%. Discusión Los pacientes con pie diabético que ingresaron a urgencias de un hospital de alta complejidad en Colombia tienen una enfermedad sistémica avanzada, relacionada con disfunción renal y vascular periférica, lesiones locales graves con compromiso óseo y articular avanzado; dada la gravedad de estas condiciones, la prevalencia de amputaciones mayores puede ser superior a la reportada en la literatura. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Background Infected diabetic foot is a frequent complication of diabetes and a marker of patient deterioration. There is little information in Colombia on the characteristics of patients that enter the highly complex emergency services with this condition and their outcomes, such as amputation and microbiological profile. Materials Case series of patients admitted to the emergency department of Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital whose main consultation was infected diabetic foot. The medical records were retrospectively analysed and descriptive statistical tools were used to characterise the population, as well as the variables related to diagnosis, treatment, and early in-hospital outcomes. Results Between January 2009 and December 2013, 118 patients with 145 ulcers due to an infected diabetic foot were admitted. The HbA1c was> 6.5 in 90%, and 52% had renal dysfunction, 51% with peripheral arterial disease, and 57% had ulcers grade 3 or higher in the Wagner classification. The infection was polymicrobial in 63%, and 58% required amputation, with 62% of amputations being classed as minor. Mortality was 10%, and mortality attributable to diabetic foot infection or complications derived from amputation was 1.7%. Discussion Patients with diabetic foot admitted to the emergency room of a high complexity hospital in Colombia have an advanced systemic disease, related to renal and peripheral vascular dysfunction, and serious local injuries with advanced bone and joint involvement. Given the severity of these conditions, the prevalence of major amputations may be higher than that reported in the literature. Evidence Level: IV

Ulcer-risk classification and plantar pressure distribution in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy: exploring the factors that can lead to foot ulceration.

Plantar pressure is critical in the onset of neuropathic foot ulcers. However, risk classifications do not consider it as a stratification parameter. Whether plantar pressure distribution affects ulcer-risk was investigated. Patients from a research study (n. 134) and from a clinical environment (n. 83) were classified into ulcer-risk groups according to the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot guidelines. Pressure distribution was acquired during gait (Pedar-X System), and assessed for hindfoot, midfoot, forefoot and toes (1way- and 2way-ANOVAs, p < 0.05). Pressure distribution changed with polyneuropathy even in the low-risk groups: median p = 0.048 (0.001-0.223). Risk classification correlated poorly with pressure distribution: median p = 0.686 (0.374-0.828). BMI, age and walking speed influenced most parameters and rendered the studies almost impossible to compare (2-way ANOVA factor A > 0.05). Pressure-time integral, the only comparable parameter between the two studies, may increase the predictive capacity of ulcer-risk stratification models.

Clasificaciones de lesiones en pie diabético II. El problema permanece / Diabetic foot Classifications II. The problem remains

Introducción: Se han publicado diversos sistemas de clasificación para las lesiones de pie diabético, si bien ninguno de los propuestos ha sido asumido por la comunidad científica como el sistema a utilizar por todos, y esto es debido a múltiples razones. Objetivos: Dar visibilidad a los nuevos sistemas de clasificación de pie diabético surgidos en los últimos años, además de poder contrastarlos con los sistemas ya conocidos anteriormente. Material y método: Búsqueda bibliográfica en las bases de datos SCOPUS, PubMed/Medline, WOS, CINHAL, Cochrane y CUIDEN. La ecuación de búsqueda utilizada fue la combinación booleana de los términos MeSH "diabetic foot AND classification". La búsqueda se realizó entre el 1 febrero de 2018 y el 30 marzo de 2018. Resultados: Existen 25 sistemas de clasificación de úlceras de pie diabético, que se pueden dividir en sistemas de clasificación-severidad de la lesión o sistemas de predicción de curación-amputación. Muy pocos sistemas han sido validados adecuadamente. Conclusiones: La elección del sistema de pie diabético a utilizar va a estar condicionada por aspectos como el ámbito asistencial, los recursos disponibles o los objetivos que se persiguen. En los últimos años se prefiere el uso de sistemas con enfoque predictivo frente a los sistemas con enfoque descriptivo

Introduction: Various classification systems have been published for diabetic foot ulcers, although none of the proposed systems has been accepted by the scientific community as the system to be used by all, and this is due to multiple reasons. Objectives: To give visibility to the new systems of diabetic foot classification that have emerged in recent years, as well as to compare them with the systems already known previously. Methods: Bibliographic search in the SCOPUS, Pubmed/Medline, WOS, CINHAL, Cochrane and CUIDEN databases. The search equation used was the boolean combination of the MeSH terms "diabetic foot AND classification". The search was conducted between 1 February 2018 and 30 March 2018. Results: There are 25 classification systems for diabetic foot ulcers, which can be divided into classification-severity systems or healing-amputation prediction systems. Very few systems have been properly validated. Conclusions: The choice of the diabetic foot system to be used will be conditioned by aspects such as the assistencial scene, the available resources or the objectives pursued. In recent years, the use of systems with a predictive approach has been preferred over systems with a descriptive approach

The Effect of Foot Exercises on Wound Healing in Type 2 Diabetic Patients With a Foot Ulcer: A Randomized Control Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of foot exercises on wound healing in type 2 diabetic patients with a diabetic foot ulcer. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled study. SUBJECT AND SETTINGS: Sixty-five patients from an outpatient clinic with grade 1 or 2 ulcers (Wagner classification) who met study criteria agreed to participate; 60 patients completed the study and were included in the final analysis. Subjects were followed up between February 2014 and June 2015. METHODS: Subjects were recruited by the researchers in the clinics where they received treatment. Subjects were randomly allocated to either the control or intervention group. Data were collected using investigator-developed forms: patient information form and the diabetic foot exercises log. Patients in the intervention group received standard wound care and performed daily foot exercises for 12 weeks; the control group received standard wound care but no exercises. The ulcers of the patients in both the intervention and control groups were examined and measured at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks. The groups were compared in terms of the ulcer size and depth. To analyze and compare the data, frequency distribution, mean (standard deviation), variance analysis, and the independent samples t test and the χ test were used. RESULTS: The mean ulcer areas were 12.63 (14.43), 6.91 (5.44), 4.30 (3.70), and 3.29 (3.80) cm (P < .05) in the study intervention group, and 24.67 (20.70), 24.75 (20.84), 20.33 (20.79), and 18.52 (21.49) cm in the control group in the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks, respectively. Significant differences were found between diabetic foot ulcer sizes in the study intervention group in the 4th and 12th weeks compared to beginning baseline (P ≤ .05). However, only the 12th week was different from the beginning in the control group (P = .000). The mean depths of the ulcers were 0.56 (0.85), 0.42 (0.68), 0.36 (0.50), and 0.28 (0.38) cm in the study intervention group (P < .05) and 0.61 (0.84), 0.82 (1.07), 0.83 (1.21), and 0.80 (1.26) cm in the control group, respectively, at the baseline, and at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks, respectively (P = .000). CONCLUSION: The ulcer areas decreased significantly in the study intervention group compared to the control group during the 3 follow-up measurements. An important finding in this study was the DFU area decreased more in those who exercised more. Findings suggests foot exercises should be included in the treatment plan when managing patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

The Society for Vascular Surgery Lower Extremity Threatened Limb Classification System: risk stratification based on wound, ischemia, and foot infection (WIfI).

Critical limb ischemia, first defined in 1982, was intended to delineate a subgroup of patients with a threatened lower extremity primarily because of chronic ischemia. It was the intent of the original authors that patients with diabetes be excluded or analyzed separately. The Fontaine and Rutherford Systems have been used to classify risk of amputation and likelihood of benefit from revascularization by subcategorizing patients into two groups: ischemic rest pain and tissue loss. Due to demographic shifts over the last 40 years, especially a dramatic rise in the incidence of diabetes mellitus and rapidly expanding techniques of revascularization, it has become increasingly difficult to perform meaningful outcomes analysis for patients with threatened limbs using these existing classification systems. Particularly in patients with diabetes, limb threat is part of a broad disease spectrum. Perfusion is only one determinant of outcome; wound extent and the presence and severity of infection also greatly impact the threat to a limb. Therefore, the Society for Vascular Surgery Lower Extremity Guidelines Committee undertook the task of creating a new classification of the threatened lower extremity that reflects these important considerations. We term this new framework, the Society for Vascular Surgery Lower Extremity Threatened Limb Classification System. Risk stratification is based on three major factors that impact amputation risk and clinical management: Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI). The implementation of this classification system is intended to permit more meaningful analysis of outcomes for various forms of therapy in this challenging, but heterogeneous population.

Older adults with heel ulcers in the acute care setting: frequency of noninvasive vascular assessment, surgical intervention, and 1-year mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To examine how often hospitalized older adults with a diagnosis of heel ulcers are evaluated with noninvasive vascular tests and to determine the impact of invasive vascular or surgical procedures on 1-year mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective review using an electronic database and chart review of all patients discharged with a diagnosis of heel ulcer between 2006 and 2009. SETTING: Urban teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 506 participants aged 65 years and older. MEASUREMENTS: Data collected included resident characteristics (demographics, medical history, and severity of illness using the Charlson comorbidity index), staging of heel ulcers, rates of noninvasive vascular assessments, vascular and surgical procedures, length of stay, and 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent (155/506) of patients with a heel ulcer underwent noninvasive vascular testing and of these 83% (129/155) were found to have underlying ischemia. Twenty-six percent (130/506) of patients underwent at least 1 vascular or surgical procedure. The 1-year mortality rate for patients with stage 1 or 2 disease was 55%; this rose to 70% for patients with stage 3 or 4 ulcers (P = .01), and could not be explained by differences in the Charlson comorbidity index. Patients who underwent a vascular or surgical procedure had a significantly lower mortality compared with those who did not (59% vs 68% P = .04). CONCLUSION: Older adults with a heel ulcer in the acute care setting are frequently not assessed for underlying ischemia of the lower extremities. The diagnosis carries high 1-year mortality rates. Evidence-based protocols need to be developed to determine which older adults should have a vascular assessment and then undergo an invasive procedure.

Preventing and managing heel pressure ulceration: an overview.

Heel pressure ulcers are the second most common site for pressure ulceration; although their assessment and treatment can be complex, and they often require additional consideration over and above core principles of pressure ulcer prevention and management. Recent international pressure ulcer prevention and treatment guidelines developed jointly in Europe and the USA have provided greater clarity by achieving international consensus on how to care for patients at risk of heel pressure ulceration, and also on the management of such patients if a pressure ulcer develops. Health professionals should embrace these guidelines and embed them in their everyday clinical practice and within local guidance and protocols to ensure that patients are provided with evidence-based care supported by international collaboration and agreement.

Lesiones cutáneas en el pie diabético / Skin Lesions in the Diabetic Foot

El síndrome del pie diabético engloba una serie de alteraciones que pueden presentar los pies de las personas con diabetes mellitus avanzada. Estas alteraciones incluyen la vasculopatía y la neuropatía periférica, la neuroartropatía de Charcot, las úlceras plantares, la osteomielitis y la complicación final de estos procesos: la amputación del miembro inferior. En los últimos años ha existido una mayor atención por parte de la comunidad médica al síndrome del pie diabético. Se han realizado avances en el entendimiento de su fisiopatología, así como en su manejo. Aunque el pie diabético es un campo de trabajo de los podólogos, los dermatólogos ejercemos de forma ocasional de consultores en algunos de estos casos. Por este motivo el presente artículo pretende ofrecer a los dermatólogos una herramienta de actualización en las causas y el manejo de las lesiones del pie diabético (AU)

In diabetic foot syndrome, a series of complications of late-stage diabetes affect the foot. These complications, which culminate in foot amputation, include peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy, Charcot arthropathy, plantar ulceration, and osteomyelitis. In recent years, the medical community has paid greater attention to diabetic foot syndrome, and our understanding of its pathophysiology and management has advanced. Although the podiatrist is charged with caring for the diabetic foot, as dermatologists we occasionally act as consultants. This review therefore offers dermatologists an update on the causes and management of skin lesions in the diabetic foot (AU)

Pedographic classification and ulcer detection in the diabetic foot.

BACKGROUND: Plantar pressure is a cause of foot ulceration in diabetes. Attempts to determine a pressure threshold have failed. The aim of this study was to determine a pedographic classification to identify patients at risk for a foot ulcer. METHODS: 210 diabetics and controls categorized into 4 groups with deformities of the forefoot were analyzed. For the pedographic measurement peak pressure, force and their integrals were analyzed using a percentage and an anatomic mask. A multivariant logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis using pedographic variables of a percentage mask revealed a combination of 4 variables (pressure time integral forefoot, peak pressure midfoot, pressure time integral heel, and peak pressure heel) identifying the foot ulcer with a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 87%. The analysis using an anatomic mask identified 8 variables (pressure time integral mask 4 (metatarsal 2), force mask 9 (2. toe), force time integral mask 8 (great toe), peak pressure mask 6 (metatarsal 4), pressure time integral mask 6 (metatarsal 4), peak pressure mask 8 (great toe), peak pressure mask 7 (metatarsal 5), and force mask 6 (metatarsal 4)) that characterized a pedal ulcer with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 90%. CONCLUSION: This screening method identifies diabetics who are at risk for a foot ulcer.

Self-care programme to prevent leprosy-related problems in a leprosy colony in Champa, Chattisgarh.

A self-care programme aimed at preventing leprosy-related physical disabilities in a leprosy colony in Champa, Chattisgarh, India, is described. Once the initial resistance was overcome through persistent and caring attitudes, the residents accepted the challenges for self-care. The outcome at the end of one year showed significant decline (41%) in ulcer rates, significant use of MCR footwear (43%), and significant proportion (over 90%) of patients and their families practising and helping in self-care activities.

Two US practitioners' experience of using essential oils for wound care.

Though essential oils are a proven antiseptic, little work has investigated their use on chronic wounds. This article describes the progress and problems of a small study of five patients, who were treated with lavender and chamomile essential oils.

Developments in orthotic deweighting technology.

The ability to unload various aspects of the lower extremity has proven a useful orthotic treatment for a variety of pathologies. This article discusses and categorizes various orthotic techniques.

Orthotic management of the neuropathic limb.

New techniques of evaluation, risk identification, wound product application, and infection control allow limb preservation to be an extremely viable option for the neuropathic and diabetic population. The orthotist specializing in wound care brings off-loading techniques to the clinical setting to allow immediate reduction of pressure to the wound site. By reducing external forces, the ulceration responds to wound care products efficiently, and closure times decrease with optimal outcomes. Following closure, the foot must be accommodated to prevent further breakdown, and regular patient follow-up should be consistent with their risk identification.

Deep foot infections in patients with diabetes and foot ulcer: an entity with different characteristics, treatments, and prognosis.

We report findings in 223 consecutively included people with diabetes, foot ulcer and a deep foot infection treated by a multidisciplinary diabetic foot care team at the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden. The aim of the present study was to evaluate type and characteristics of deep foot infections and their relation to choice of treatment and outcome. Three different groups of deep foot infections were identified; osteomyelitis only (n = 112), deep soft tissue infection only (n = 46) and combined infections (osteomyelitis and deep soft tissue infection, n = 65). The various types of deep foot infections had different characteristics, treatment and prognosis. Patients with a deep soft tissue infection only or a combined infection had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher; (1) body temperature (38.0 and 38.0 vs. 37.3 degrees C), (2) erythrocyte sedimentation rate (75 and 80 vs. 56 mm/h) and (3) white blood count (11.0 and 12.0 vs. 8 x 10(9)) at diagnosis compared with those who had osteomyelitis only. Patients with a deep soft tissue infection only or a combined infection also had a significantly (p < 0.05) shorter time to surgery (2 and 4 vs. 10 days), higher mean number of surgical procedures (1.9 and 2.1 vs. 1.4 procedures) and higher percentage of patients had intravenous antibiotics (87 and 84 vs. 46%) compared with those who had osteomyelitis only. Amputation before healing was more common in patients with a combined infection (62%) compared with those who had osteomyelitis only (37%) or a deep soft tissue infection only (30%). The findings in the present study indicate that deep foot infections in patients with diabetes is a heterogeneous entity, in which the type of deep foot infection is related to choice of treatment strategy and to outcome. Therefore, these various types of infections has to be considered in future studies of deep foot infections in people with diabetes.

[Simplification and codification of treatment for leprous plantar ulcers]. / Simplification et codification des soins aux maux perforants plantaires lépreux.

Practically leprous plantar ulcers (PU) are difficult to treat and heal under field condition. Considering the important number of patients showing a PU, the directors of national leprosy control programmes are determined, within the programmes on prevention of disabilities (POD), to treat the PU in the field. Therefore it appears to be essential to codify and simplify their treatment thus enabling it to be effective. The healing of PU being the only criteria of effectiveness of the technique. Four clinical stages were defined, each corresponding to a precise way of treatment using only essential and basic products at low cost. During the trainings about the treatment techniques and attitudes much emphasize is given on the discharge of the PU, on the trimming of the wound and on the products to use according to PU's evolutionary stage.

The neuropathic foot.

The neuropathic foot is described with relation to cause, presentation, dysfunction and identification. The various mechanisms of neuropathic foot lesions are outlined--overload, diabetic gangrene, continuous pressure, direct injury and cutting and temperature effects. The orthotic treatment of the foot is discussed and in particular the importance of proper shoe provision and patient education and indoctrination emphasised. The use of plaster casts and fenestrations to control pressure distribution is described. Finally results of an intensive treatment programme are presented to identify the effect on outcome, as measured by delay in amputation.

Evaluation of lower extremity ulcerations.

The authors provide a simplified system for the initial approach and diagnostic evaluation of the more commonly occurring ulcerations encountered by the Podiatric physician. This system provides a logical basis for evaluation, identification, and therapeutic intervention of lower extremity ulcers.