What Researchers Did
The researchers reviewed optimal medical treatments and local care strategies for ischaemic diabetic ulcers, including infection management, adjunctive therapies, and arterial perfusion improvement.
What They Found
They found that specific oral or intravenous antibiotics are crucial for managing infections, with Staphylococcus aureus being a common pathogen. Adjunctive therapies like granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were associated with a lower rate of amputation, and iloprost improved ulcer healing, decreased pain, and slightly diminished amputation rates.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with ischaemic diabetic ulcers may benefit from a multifactorial treatment approach, including targeted antibiotic therapy for infections and consideration of adjunctive treatments like G-CSF or iloprost. These strategies could potentially improve healing outcomes and reduce the risk of amputation.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation is that local care practices for these ulcers are not rationalized and depend on local habits, indicating a lack of standardised evidence.