Diabetic Limb Salvage & Reconstruction
Diabetic limb salvage and reconstruction refer to a set of medical procedures and treatments that are designed to prevent the amputation of a diabetic patient’s limb, such as the leg or foot. Diabetes can cause nerve damage and poor circulation, which can lead to foot ulcers, infections, and other serious complications that may eventually result in the need for amputation. Diabetic limb salvage and reconstruction aim to address these issues and promote healing, thus saving the patient’s limb.
Surgical Procedures
Dr. Barksdale will evaluate your condition to determine the underlying cause and tailor a treatment plan to help you get relief and back on your feet.
If the ulcer or wound is severe or has not responded to other treatments, surgery may be necessary. There are several types of surgery that may be used in diabetic limb salvage and reconstruction, including debridement, which involves removing dead or infected tissue from the wound; skin grafting, which involves transplanting healthy skin to the affected area; and revascularization, which involves restoring blood flow to the affected area.
In some cases, amputation may still be necessary despite these treatments. However, even in cases where amputation is necessary, limb salvage and reconstruction can still play a role in improving the patient’s quality of life. This may involve fitting the patient with a prosthetic limb or providing physical therapy to help the patient adjust to life with a limb amputation.
Overall, diabetic limb salvage and reconstruction is an important aspect of diabetic foot care. By identifying and treating foot ulcers and other wounds early on, and by providing surgical intervention when necessary, doctors can often prevent the need for limb amputation and help diabetic patients maintain their mobility and quality of life. It is important for diabetic patients to work closely with their doctors to manage their condition and prevent serious complications.
Diabetic Charcot foot syndrome is a serious and potentially limb-threatening lower-extremity complication of diabetes. Charcot foot, is a condition affecting the bones, joints, and soft tissues of the foot and ankle, characterized by inflammation in the earliest phase.
The Charcot foot has been documented to occur because of various peripheral neuropathies. The interaction of several component factors (diabetes, sensory-motor neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, trauma, and metabolic abnormalities of bone) results in an acute localized inflammatory condition that may lead to varying degrees and patterns of bone destruction, subluxation, dislocation, and deformity.
The hallmark deformity associated with this condition is midfoot collapse, described as a “rocker-bottom” foot, although the condition appears in other joints and with other presentations.
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