OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of treating diabetic foot by clearing heat, detoxification, activating blood, and dredging collaterals method.

METHODSSixty diabetic foot patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 30 cases in each group. On the basis of the same routine treatment, patients in the treatment group were treated by Qingjie Tongluo Recipe (QTR) plus external washing of Chinese herbs plus external dressing by herbs with removing necrosis and promoting granulation actions, while those in the control group were treated with routine aseptic external dressing. Three months was taken as one therapeutic course. The wound area and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were detected before and after treatment. The content of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the peripheral vascular and nerve functions were also measured. The therapeutic effects were also observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, in the treatment group,15 patients were cured, 12 markedly effective, 2 effective, 1 ineffective, the cure rate was 50.0% and the total effective rate was 96.7%, while in the control group, 9 cases were cured, 6 markedly effective, 8 effective, 7 ineffective, the cure rate was 30.0% and the total effective rate was 76.7%. The total effective rate was better in the treatment group than in the control group (P <0. 01). The contents of bFGF and VEGF were significantly higher in the two groups after treatment (P <0.01). Besides, better results were obtained in the treatment group (P < 0.01). The blood flow speed of the dorsalis pedis artery, the inner diameter of the dorsalis pedis artery, and the common peroneal nerve conduction velocity were somewhat improved (P <0.05, P <0.01). Besides, better results were obtained in the treatment group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONSQTR combined external washing plus external dressing by herbs with removing necrosis and promoting granulation actions could promote the healing of diabetic foot induced ulcers, improve the vascular and nerve functions. Its efficacy was superior to that of the control group.