Study on the Effect of the Five-in-One Comprehensive Limb Salvage Technologies of Treating Severe Diabetic Foot

Physical therapy in diabetic foot ulcer: Research progress and clinical application

Diabetes foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most intractable complications of diabetes and is related to a number of risk factors. DFU therapy is difficult and involves long-term interdisciplinary collaboration, causing patients physical and emotional pain and increasing medical costs. With a rising number of diabetes patients, it is vital to figure out the causes and treatment techniques of DFU in a precise and complete manner, which will assist alleviate patients' suffering and decrease excessive medical expenditure. Here, we summarised the characteristics and progress of the physical therapy methods for the DFU, emphasised the important role of appropriate exercise and nutritional supplementation in the treatment of DFU, and discussed the application prospects of non-traditional physical therapy such as electrical stimulation (ES), and photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the treatment of DFU based on clinical experimental records in ClinicalTrials.gov.

Exploring the barriers of patients with diabetic foot complications in China: a qualitative interview study

Background

Patients with diabetic foot complications are associated with high rates of morbidity, disability, and mortality. Through findings of qualitative interviews with patients with this disease, we aimed to explore the barriers they encountered, provide evidence to improve the efficacy of medical services, discuss prevention and treatment strategies for future policymakers, and attract widespread attention from the Chinese society.

Methods

Patients with diabetic foot complications were recruited from three tertiary hospitals in China between July to September 2020. Patients were included who had a clinical diagnosis of diabetic foot complications, were 18 years or older, spoke Chinese as their first language, and were willing to share treatment experiences. An interview guide was used during the in-person semi-structured interviews that lasted 20 to 50 minutes and were audio-recorded. Transcripts were analyzed for qualitative themes.

Results

Forty-one patients (range, 38-79 years; 12 men, 29 women) were recruited. Data analysis indicated five thematic dimensions on barriers encountered by patients with diabetic foot complications: hospital visits, doctor-patient communication, mental burden, economic burden, and social support.

Conclusions

Patients with diabetic foot complications face serious financial, mental, and social burdens in China. Future studies can use the five dimensions to help solve the existing problems and improve treatment outcomes of this patient population.