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Diabetic Foot Ulcer: Prevention, Management, and Controversies

  • Wound Care After Injury (H Kaafarani and J Goverman, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Trauma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to update the reader on current practices and new developments in caring for the patient with a diabetic foot ulcer.

Recent Findings

Surgical offloading may be superior to total contact casting but additional data is needed. Multidisciplinary care of the diabetic foot is effective at reducing amputations and reducing overall cost of care.

Summary

Prevention of diabetic foot ulcers is most effective when diabetes and comorbidities are adequately managed and frequent foot care is performed by the patient daily and the clinician annually. Offloading is central to healing diabetic foot ulcers. Diabetic foot care is complex and requires a broad spectrum of medical, surgical, and orthotic specialists. When care occurs within a coordinated, multidisciplinary team, cost and outcomes improve.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd NW, Bles Bldg 1st Fl, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

    Elliot T. Walters & Paul J. Kim

  2. Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Paul J. Kim

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  1. Elliot T. Walters
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Correspondence to Paul J. Kim.

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Dr. Kim reports personal fees from Acelity and from KCI, outside the submitted work. Dr. Walters declares no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Wound Care After Injury

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Walters, E.T., Kim, P.J. Diabetic Foot Ulcer: Prevention, Management, and Controversies. Curr Trauma Rep 4, 273–283 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40719-018-0151-1

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