RT Book, Section
A1 Hamm, Rose
A1 Carey, Joseph N.
SR Print(0)
ID 1179616097
T1 Diabetic Foot Ulcers
T2 Essential Elements of Wound Diagnosis
YR 2021
FD 2021
PB McGraw Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260460476
LK accessphysiotherapy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1179616097
RD 2024/04/25
AB Diabetic  foot  ulcers  (DFUs)  typically  occur  on  the  weight-bearing  surface  of  the  foot  or  the  digits  as  a  result  of  sensory  neuropathy,  bony  abnormalities,  and/or  repeated  mechanical  forces  (shear,  friction,  or  direct  pressure).  Because  patients  with  diabetes  often  present  with  other  co-morbidities,  including  peripheral  arterial  disease  (PAD),  it  is  imperative  to  distinguish  DFUs  from  other  types  of  wounds  in  order  to  effectively  diagnose  and  treat.  A  thorough  vascular  examination  is  a  critical  part  of  managing  patients  with  DFUs,  and  if  pedal  pulses  are  diminished  or  absent,  timely  referral  to  a  vascular  specialist  is  warranted.  If  pedal  pulses  are  present,  DFUs  can  be  treated  with  standard  care  as  described  below.  However,  even  in  the  presence  of  palpable  pedal  pulses,  referral  to  a  vascular  specialist  should  be  considered  for  cases  in  which  a  wound  fails  to  progress  in  a  given  period  of  time,  or  if  the  patient  is  at  particularly  high  risk  for  amputation.