Dr. Leena’s goal as a Reconstructive Microsurgeon is to restore ulcer healing and salvage feet so that patients can rehabilitate and stand on their own. Dr. Leena, who performs excellent , Mumbai, believes that saving a person’s feet is her greatest achievement.
The surgical cleaning of any wound/ulcer begins with removing all dead tissues.
This accelerates the body’s natural healing process. The wound can then be effectively covered with a flap/graft, and reconstruction is planned based on the blood supply to the feet.
Hand infections are more common in diabetics, and they are often severe. To restore function, these must be managed effectively.
Diabetic foot ulcers affect about 25% of people with diabetes at some point in their lives. They can lead to amputation if left untreated.
Foot ulcers have become a source of concern for many people as among India’s fastest-growing chronic conditions; diabetes brings a slew of health complications.
People with diabetes are more likely to have foot problems because the disease can cause nerve damage over time, leading to diabetic neuropathy and loss of sensation in the feet.
Specific cuts and wounds developing in the feet may go unnoticed as a result, leading to infection.
Diabetes can cause diabetic foot ulcers due to nerve damage and restricted blood flow in the lower extremities. If left untreated, it can lead to full or partial amputation in some cases.
According to Dr. Leena, a prominent Plastic Surgeon from Mumbai, Diabetic foot ulcers affect about 25% of people with diabetes at some point in their lives.
An innocent-looking ulcer on a diabetic’s feet can sometimes lead to a severe infection, such as:
- Wet gangrene
- CellulitisÂ
- AbscessÂ
- Necrotizing fasciitisÂ
If left untreated, this condition can lead to total or partial amputation of the foot.
Around one in every five diabetics admitted to the hospital with a diabetic foot ulcer has their foot amputated, affecting both the patients and their families, ” says Dr. Leena, a renowned Plastic Surgeon from Mumbai.
Diabetic Foot Ulcers Symptoms
Dr. Leena, an expert plastic surgeon from Mumbai, also discusses the signs and symptoms of foot ulcers.
People with diabetes should wash and dry their feet properly, ensuring that the skin between their toes is dry.
Consult your doctor if you detect any calluses or corns on your feet. “People with unchecked blood sugar levels must have a comprehensive foot examination once a year,” Dr. Leena recommends.
Here are some of the symptoms of foot ulcers that you should be aware of:
- Discoloration of skin
- Numbness, tingling, and pain in the legs
- Blisters or other wounds on the foot
- Loss of balance
- Foul smell from foot
To avoid developing complications that can sometimes be irreversible, people with diabetes must never ignore the symptoms of the diabetic foot.
Dead cells are removed.
The importance of early management in the case of diabetic foot is critical. When an infection develops, the likelihood of amputation rises inexorably.
“The main goal of diabetic foot treatment is to debride the wound and relieve pressure from the affected area as quickly as possible.
The sooner a foot ulcer is treated and closed, the less likely it will become infected.
When there is no infection in the ulcer area, the surgeons will withdraw dead cells or debride the site before applying topical medications or dressing the ulcer. “Dr. Leena agrees.
Infection prevention
Controlling bacterial growth in a glucose-rich tissue environment is challenging in diabetic feet, so managing the infection is difficult.
What’s more upsetting is that failure to prevent disease at the ulcer’s site can result in amputation.
According to Dr. Leena, one out of every five diabetics hospitalized due to a severe foot infection had their feet amputated, and about half of them died within five years of the amputation.
Treatment
With advances in science, diabetic foot wound recovery treatment has been guaranteed and has advanced significantly in recent years.
The availability of new chemical entities such as DPOCL (Diperoxochloric acid) has aided in the more effective management of diabetic foot ulcers.
Diabetic foot ulcers can be better managed in a dense diabetic population of the country, concludes Dr. Leena, a well-known plastic surgeon from Mumbai, with increased awareness and newer treatments.
