Recently, the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot and the Infectious Diseases Society of America divided diabetic foot disease into diabetic foot infection (DFI) and diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO). DFI is usually diagnosed clinically, while numerous methods exist to diagnose DFO. In this narrative review, the authors aim to summarize the updated data on the diagnosis of DFO. An extensive literature search using “diabetic foot [MeSH]” and “osteomyelitis [MeSH]” or “diagnosis” was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar in July 2023. The possibility of DFO is based on inflammatory clinical signs, including the probe-to-bone (PTB) test. Elevated inflammatory biochemical markers, especially erythrocyte sedimentation rate, are beneficial. Distinguishing abnormal findings of plain radiographs is also a first-line approach. Moreover, sophisticated modalities, including magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear medicine imaging, are helpful if doubt remains after a first-line diagnosis. Transcutaneous bone biopsy, which does not pass through the wound, is necessary to avoid contaminating the sample. This review focuses on the current diagnostic techniques for DFOs with an emphasis on the updates. To obtain the correct therapeutic results, selecting a proper option is necessary. Based on these numerous diagnosis modalities and indications, the proper choice of diagnostic tool can have favorable treatment outcomes.
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Unveiling the challenges of diabetic foot infections: diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, and rehabilitation Chul Hyun Park Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science.2023; 40(4): 319. CrossRef
An aging population and changes in dietary habits have increased the incidence of diabetes, resulting in complications such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). DFUs can lead to serious disabilities, substantial reductions in patient quality of life, and high financial costs for society. By understanding the etiology and pathophysiology of DFUs, their occurrence can be prevented and managed more effectively. The pathophysiology of DFUs involves metabolic dysfunction, diabetic immunopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and angiopathy. The processes by which hyperglycemia causes peripheral nerve damage are related to adenosine triphosphate deficiency, the polyol pathway, oxidative stress, protein kinase C activity, and proinflammatory processes. In the context of hyperglycemia, the suppression of endothelial nitric oxide production leads to microcirculation atherosclerosis, heightened inflammation, and abnormal intimal growth. Diabetic neuropathy involves sensory, motor, and autonomic neuropathies. The interaction between these neuropathies forms a callus that leads to subcutaneous hemorrhage and skin ulcers. Hyperglycemia causes peripheral vascular changes that result in endothelial cell dysfunction and decreased vasodilator secretion, leading to ischemia. The interplay among these four preceding pathophysiological factors fosters the development and progression of infections in individuals with diabetes. Charcot neuroarthropathy is a chronic and progressive degenerative arthropathy characterized by heightened blood flow, increased calcium dissolution, and repeated minor trauma to insensate joints. Directly and comprehensively addressing the pathogenesis of DFUs could pave the way for the development of innovative treatment approaches with the potential to avoid the most serious complications, including major amputations.
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Responsive to adaptive supramolecular hydrogels for diabetic wound treatment Shalini Balakrishnan, Revathy Remesh, Krishnan Kartha Kalathil, Anie Y Supramolecular Materials.2025; 4: 100081. CrossRef
Diabetic foot – prevention and control challenges Vitorino Modesto dos Santos, Taciana Arruda Modesto Sugai, Lister Arruda Modesto dos Santos Belize Journal of Medicine.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Treatment of Morganella morganii-Associated Non-healing Diabetic Foot Ulcer With Vaporous Hyperoxia Therapy: A Case Report Afrah S Abedi, Jacob L McElroy, Vladimir Valencia, Rachel M Worcester, Zhi J Yu Cureus.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Integrated genetic analysis of diabetic complications: Bioinformatics insights into foot ulcers, neuropathy and peripheral artery disease Jiaru Liang, Xiaoyang Gong, Xuyang Hu, Chong You, Jiaqi Zhou, Yuling Gao, Junwei Zong, Yong Liu International Wound Journal.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Systematic review of translational insights: Neuromodulation in animal models for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Rahul Mittal, Keelin McKenna, Grant Keith, Evan McKenna, Rahul Sinha, Joana R. N. Lemos, Khemraj Hirani, Mohammad Sarif Mohiuddin PLOS ONE.2024; 19(8): e0308556. CrossRef
Effect of Treatment of Neuropathic and Ischemic Diabetic Foot Ulcers with the Use of Local Ozone Therapy Procedures—An Observational Single Center Study Jarosław Pasek, Sebastian Szajkowski, Grzegorz Cieślar Clinics and Practice.2024; 14(5): 2139. CrossRef
High glucose combined with lipopolysaccharide stimulation inhibits cell proliferation and migration of human HaCaT keratinocytes by impacting redox homeostasis and activating the polyol pathway Zhenhui Xie, Shufan Zhou, Songtao Tang, Qiu Zhang, Lei Liu Molecular Biology Reports.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Unveiling the challenges of diabetic foot infections: diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, and rehabilitation Chul Hyun Park Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science.2023; 40(4): 319. CrossRef
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are among the most serious complications of diabetes and are a source of reduced quality of life and financial burden for the people involved. For effective DFU management, an evidence-based treatment strategy that considers the patient's clinical context and wound condition is required. This treatment strategy should include conventional practices (surgical debridement, antibiotics, vascular assessment, offloading, and amputation) coordinated by interdisciplinary DFU experts. In addition, several adjuvant therapies can be considered for nonhealing wounds. In this narrative review, we aim to highlight the current trends in DFU management and review the up-to-date guidelines.
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Sequence analysis of microbiota in clinical human cases with diabetic foot ulcers from China Ying Li, Li Zhang, Meifang He, Yuebin Zhao Heliyon.2024; 10(14): e34368. CrossRef
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Unveiling the challenges of diabetic foot infections: diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, and rehabilitation Chul Hyun Park Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science.2023; 40(4): 319. CrossRef
Diabetic foot is one of the most devastating consequences of diabetes, resulting in amputation and possibly death. Therefore, early detection and vigorous treatment of infections in patients with diabetic foot are critical. This review seeks to provide guidelines for the therapy and rehabilitation of patients with moderate-to-severe diabetic foot. If a diabetic foot infection is suspected, bacterial cultures should be initially obtained. Numerous imaging studies can be used to identify diabetic foot, and recent research has shown that white blood cell single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography has comparable diagnostic specificity and sensitivity to magnetic resonance imaging. Surgery is performed when a diabetic foot ulcer is deep and is accompanied by bone and soft tissue infections. Patients should be taught preoperative rehabilitation before undergoing stressful surgery. During surgical procedures, it is critical to remove all necrotic tissue and drain the inflammatory area. It is critical to treat wounds with suitable dressings after surgery. Wet dressings promote the formation of granulation tissues and new blood vessels. Walking should begin as soon as the patient’s general condition allows it, regardless of the wound status or prior walking capacity. Adequate treatment of comorbidities, including hypertension and dyslipidemia, and smoking cessation are necessary. Additionally, broad-spectrum antibiotics are required to treat diabetic foot infections.
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Unveiling the challenges of diabetic foot infections: diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment, and rehabilitation Chul Hyun Park Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science.2023; 40(4): 319. CrossRef
Background A diabetic foot is the most common cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations (LEA). The study seeks to assess the risk factors of amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU).
Methods The study was conducted on 351 patients with DFUs from January 2010 to December 2018. Their demographic characteristics, disease history, laboratory data, ankle-brachial index, Wagner classification, osteomyelitis, sarcopenia index, and ulcer sizes were considered as variables to predict outcome. A chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to test the relationship of the data gathered. Additionally, the subjects were divided into two groups based on their amputation surgery.
Results Out of the 351 subjects, 170 required LEA. The mean age of the subjects was 61 years and the mean duration of diabetes was 15 years; there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of these averages. Osteomyelitis (hazard ratio [HR], 6.164; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.561−10.671), lesion on percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (HR, 2.494; 95% CI, 1.087−5.721), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.981−0.999), ulcer size (HR, 1.247; 95% CI, 1.107−1.405), and forefoot ulcer location (HR, 2.475; 95% CI, 0.224−0.73) were associated with risk of amputation.
Conclusion Osteomyelitis, peripheral artery disease, chronic kidney disease, ulcer size, and forefoot ulcer location were risk factors for amputation in diabetic foot patients. Further investigation would contribute to the establishment of a diabetic foot risk stratification system for Koreans, allowing for optimal individualized treatment.
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