Diabetic patients have 25 percent more risk of making an ulcer in one leg and there is a high amputation risk, in fact, 70 percent of the amputations that are performed today are due to diabetes.
"These amputations of the lower limb are usually preceded by an ulcer in the foot, which is complicated with an infection and aggravates due to lack of blood irrigation," explained the doctor.
Therefore, the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer requires a multidisciplinary approach as it usually requires the application of multiple medical-surgical techniques, ranging from selective intravenous antibiotic treatment, adequate metabolic control and pain relief, evenSurgical drains of soft or bone parts infection and limb revascularization.
In addition, as the specialist explained, specific priests for the type of ulcer and discharge of pressure at the floor of the foot throughout the process are also necessary.
To achieve this type of approach there are diabetic foot units in Europe.However, it is estimated that only 25 pro one hundred of the Spanish population would have access to a diabetic standing unit in case of necessity, even taking into account that scientific evidence supports its creation.
"The creation of these multidisciplinary teams has shown that the number of amputations can be reduced between 45-85 percent in the different series published in the scientific literature, and reach a rate of healing of ulcers greater than 80 percent of theCases, "said Dr. Alfayate.
Finally, the expert wanted to emphasize that these units are cost-effective since hospitals have almost all necessary means and that a healing patient is much less burdensome for the system than the one who loses his limb.