Diabetes can affect your feet in several ways. Diabetes reduces the amount of blood flow to your extremities, including your feet, and delays healing of small cuts and blisters. These effects can lead to painful, debilitating diabetic foot wounds. Your podiatrist can help. Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel at Emerald Coast Podiatry provides a wide range of foot and ankle services, including surgical treatment of diabetic foot wounds. He has two convenient office locations in Fort Walton Beach, and Crestview, FL.
What You Need To Know About Surgical Treatment for Diabetic Wound Care
Diabetic foot wounds, known as foot ulcers, occur in about 15% of patients, and of these, about 6% will be hospitalized from infection, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. You are more likely to experience a foot ulcer if you:
- Are older
- Are male
- Use insulin
- Are overweight
- Use alcohol and tobacco
You may not notice pain associated with the foot ulcer, because of diabetes-related nerve damage, so you shouldn’t rely on pain as a symptom. You need to visit the podiatrist when you first notice the foot ulcer. Surgical treatment is often an excellent solution to heal foot ulcers. Your podiatrist may recommend:
- Shaving or excising bone, to eliminate pressure to the area, so the wound can heal
- Debridement, to remove dead tissue and infection, and facilitate wound healing
Recovery from diabetic foot surgery takes time and varies depending on the surgery. Where the wound is located, blood glucose levels, circulation, and other factors all affect recovery.
While you are recovering, it’s essential to monitor your blood glucose levels, because high blood glucose levels will affect healing. Your podiatrist may also recommend crutches, a walking boot or cast, or other assistive device to take weight off of your wound. It's essential to keep the area clean, and covered with a moist, protective dressing. Your podiatrist will also provide instructions on how to clean and apply dressing to the surgical area.
Want To Know More About Surgical Treatment for Diabetic Foot Wounds?
To learn more about surgical options for diabetic foot wounds, talk with an expert. Call Dr. Cosimo Ricciardi and Dr. Neil Patel at Emerald Coast Podiatry. You can reach him in the Fort Walton Beach, FL, office by calling (850) 862-4119, or in Crestview, FL, by calling (850) 682-6522, so call today.