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Australian Diabetes Foot Network: management of diabetes‐related foot ulceration — a clinical update
Author(s) -
Bergin Shan M,
Gurr Joel M,
Allard Bernard P,
Holland Emma L,
Horsley Mark W,
Kamp Maarten C,
Lazzarini Peter A,
Nube Vanessa L,
Sinha Ashim K,
Warnock Jason T,
Alford Jan B,
Wraight Paul R
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/mja11.10347
Subject(s) - podiatrist , medicine , gangrene , amputation , wound care , referral , diabetic foot , cellulitis , foot (prosody) , fasciitis , podiatry , diabetes mellitus , intensive care medicine , debridement (dental) , negative pressure wound therapy , physical therapy , surgery , nursing , complication , alternative medicine , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , endocrinology
Summary Appropriate assessment and management of diabetes‐related foot ulcers (DRFUs) is essential to reduce amputation risk. Management requires debridement, wound dressing, pressure off‐loading, good glycaemic control and potentially antibiotic therapy and vascular intervention. As a minimum, all DRFUs should be managed by a doctor and a podiatrist and/or wound care nurse. Health professionals unable to provide appropriate care for people with DRFUs should promptly refer individuals to professionals with the requisite knowledge and skills. Indicators for immediate referral to an emergency department or multidisciplinary foot care team (MFCT) include gangrene, limb‐threatening ischaemia, deep ulcers (bone, joint or tendon in the wound base), ascending cellulitis, systemic symptoms of infection and abscesses. Referral to an MFCT should occur if there is lack of wound progress after 4 weeks of appropriate treatment.