It is currently necessary to manage chronic ischemic foot gangrene because the rate of hospitalization and operations is increasing as a result of diet change and the growth of an aging population. Chronic ischemic foot gangrene is caused by Buerger`s disease, atherosclerosis and particularly, diabetes. In this study, we used the Wagner ischemic index with Doppler flowmeter and Wagner classification on 62 patients over 8 years from 1991 to 1998 as an index for treatment and prognosis. We measured the systolic pressure to determine the ischemic index, and according to Wagner the blood flow was inadequate in cases of diabetic foot gangrene and nondiabetic foot gangrene when it was below 0.45 and 0.35, respectively. According to the observation of clinical symptoms, we divided the cases by Wagner classification. Based on the above data, we performed conservative treatment, skin graft, local flap, superficial sural arterial island flap and amputation. We then followed up the patients and observed the treatment results. We concluded that the Wagner ischemic index with Doppler flowmeter and Wagner classification was useful in determining, selecting, and predicting the rate of survival or death as a result of amputation and graft when a surgical operation is performed.
Aging ; Amputation ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Pressure ; Classification* ; Diabetic Foot ; Diet ; Flowmeters* ; Foot Ulcer* ; Foot* ; Gangrene ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Transplants

Damages to the sensory, autonomic and motor nerves in leprosy patients are followed by anesthesia, dryness of the skin and muscular paralysis. Most plantar ulcers in leprosy patients are caused by repetitive moderate stress. Minor injuries such as bruising sustained as a result of the misuse of anesthetic limbs may lead to ulceration, scar formation and secondary infection. Cellulitis develops and destroys subcutaneous tissue, resulting in an infection which can reach the bone. As a result of osteomyelitis, bone is absorbed, sequestra are extruded and the architecture of the foot is destructed. The most common sites of the plantar ulceration are over the metatarsal heads, the base of the fifth metatarsal, the base of the proximal phalanx, and the calcaneus. During the past 9 years, we treated 85 patients with ulcers located on the sole and the dorsum of the foot, and lower third of the leg. To prevent osteomyelitis and amputation of the lower leg, we performed various treatment modalities such as free and pedicle flaps, skin grafts, and mechanical stretching devices of the skin (e.g., Sure Closure, Proxiderm, etc), as well as consistent vacuum-assisted closure. We obtained satisfactory results in most cases. We report detailed results and related references.
Amputation ; Anesthesia ; Calcaneus ; Cellulitis ; Cicatrix ; Coinfection ; Extremities ; Foot Ulcer* ; Foot* ; Head ; Humans ; Leg ; Leprosy* ; Metatarsal Bones ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Osteomyelitis ; Paralysis ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Transplants ; Ulcer

BACKGROUND: Chronic wounds occur due to failure of the normal healing process, associated with a lack of deposition of cellular components and a suitable microenvironment such as the extracellular matrix (ECM). Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is viewed as an ECM substitute, and a paste-type ADM has recently been introduced. We hypothesized that CGPaste, an injectable paste-type ADM, could serve as a scaffold and promote wound healing. METHODS: We retrospectively studied seven patients in whom CGPaste was applied between 2017 and 2018, who had pressure ulcers, necrotizing fasciitis, diabetic foot ulcers, traumatic defects, and osteomyelitis. The goal of applying CGPaste was to achieve complete wound healing with re-epithelialization or growth of granulation tissue, depending upon the wound bed status. CGPaste was injected based on the wound size along with the application of a dressing. RESULTS: Four of the seven patients showed granulation tissue on their wound bed, while the other three patients had a bony wound bed. The mean wound area was 453.57 mm2 and the depth was 10.71 mm. Wound healing occurred in five of the seven patients (71.43%). The mean duration of complete healing was 2.4 weeks. Two patients showed failure due to paste absorption (29.57%); these patients had wound beds comprising bone with relatively large and deep wounds (40×30 and 30×20 mm2 in area and 15 and 10 mm in depth). CONCLUSIONS: CGPaste is an effective option for coverage of small and deep chronic wounds for which a flap operation or skin grafting is unfeasible.
Absorption ; Acellular Dermis* ; Bandages ; Diabetic Foot ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Osteomyelitis ; Pressure Ulcer ; Re-Epithelialization ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Transplantation ; Ulcer* ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries*

Gouty ulceration is a clinical manifestation of gout, which is a metabolic disease induced by disturbed purine metabolism. In general, protruded gout tophus and secondary infection made a gouty ulceration. It was generally treated with surgical debridement of the tophus and infected tissue. Inevitably, we make the skin defect if needed the wide surgical debridement. We waited for granulation tissue healing of the defect, then finished with a skin graft. However, larger sized gouty ulcerations require a longer period of healing time. We commonly used the vacuum assisted wound closer device (VAC) for shortening the healing time in diabetic foot ulceration. Use of VAC for a gouty ulceration was not nearly reported in literature. We report on the use of VAC after surgical debridement to heal a chronic gouty ulceration around the lateral malleolus.
Coinfection ; Debridement ; Diabetic Foot ; Gout ; Granulation Tissue ; Metabolic Diseases ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Purines ; Skin ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Vacuum

The importance of neuropathy in the pathogenesis of foot lesions has been well recognized in diabetes. Blood flow in ischemic limbs has been extensively investigated but the circulation of limbs affected by peripheral neu ropathy has received little attention. Some studies on blood flow in peripheral neuropathy have shown a remarkable increase in resting flow, transcutaneous venous oxygen tension, and vascularity, along with loss of the spontaneous variations which occur normally with sympathetic activity of the foot in patients with diabetes. The aim of present study is to find out the effects of somatic and autonomic nervous function in early change of blood flow of foot in diabetic patients, We have studied fifty-one patients of non-insulin-dependent(type II) diabetes with no history of hypertension of diabetic foot ulcers. The evidence of neuropathy was screened by nerve conduction studies and sympathetic skin response of both lower extremities. Blood flow of dorsalis pedls and posterior tibial arteries was measured by portable doppler machine and presented as pressure index(ankle-to-arm systolic pressure ratio). The patients with sympathetic dysfunction showed significant decrease in pressure index compared to normal control and diabetic patients with normal sympathetic function, suggesting that changes of the blood flow occur in diabetic patients with sympathetic dysfunction.
Blood Pressure ; Diabetic Foot ; Extremities ; Foot* ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lower Extremity ; Neural Conduction ; Oxygen ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Skin ; Tibial Arteries ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: A reverse sural artery flap is a useful method for the soft tissue coverage of the lower leg, around the foot and ankle. We present our experience with the reverse sural artery flap for the coverage of a soft tissue defect due to ulceration, necrosis, and trauma in diabetic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 5 diabetic patients who showed soft tissue defects around their lower leg, foot and ankle. The causes of the soft tissue defect were an ulcer and infection in 4 cases, and trauma in 1 case. The sites of the soft tissue defect were around the ankle in 2 cases. In the other cases, the defect site were the lower third of the leg, the hind foot, the foot dorsum. The mean follow up period was 12.4 months. The size of the soft tissue defect ranged from 4 x 3 cm to 15 x 10 cm. RESULTS: All the flaps survived. The donor site was covered with a split thickness skin graft. There was no recurrence of the soft tissue defect during the follow-up period. Conclusion: The reverse sural artery flap is a valuable method for covering certain types soft tissue defect of foot and ankle in diabetic patients.
Ankle* ; Arteries* ; Diabetic Foot ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot* ; Humans ; Leg ; Necrosis ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Ulcer

We report a patient who presented with three months of foot pain, lytic navicular bone lesions in the foot, and a painless ipsilateral leg skin ulcer. Bone and skin biopsies revealed organisms compatible with Blastomyces. Systemic blastomycosis is very rare, especially with bone involvement in the foot.
Biopsy ; Blastomyces ; Blastomycosis* ; Foot* ; Humans ; Leg ; Skin ; Skin Ulcer

The area overlying the ischium is the most frequent site for the development and recurrence of pressure sores in the paraplegic patient. This report describes a newly-designed inferior gluteus maximus myocutaneous island flap that is useful for the repair of ischial pressure sores in paraplegic patients. Sacral sore develops a wide and flat ulcer crater. However, ischial sore seems to develop large and deep bursa with relatively small openings. We have used a newly-designed gluteus maximus myocutaneous island flap according to the specific characteristics of ischial sore. The flap is designed in the fashion of a small skin island with a large muscle flap. This flap with its abundant and constant blood supply had proved very reliable in the surgical management of ischial pressure sore. There is also the possible advantage of cushioning with the bulk of muscle for greater long-term durability. Incision could be extended for a complete bursetomy and partial ischiectomy. The reliability, versatility and low morbidity of the inferior gluteus maximus island flap has been demonstrated by its use in our consecutive series of 7 patients with 8 ischial pressure sores. We conclude that this newly-designed inferior gluteus maximus myocutaneous island flap can be applied in deep, infected ischial sore according to the specific characteristics of ischial sore, and it is a very useful method in comparison to other flaps.
Humans ; Ischium ; Pressure Ulcer ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an adjunct therapy using negative pressure to remove fluid from open wounds through a sealed dressing and a specialized tubing that is connected to a collection container. NPWT is suitable for acute and chronic wound condition because it was designed to accelerate granulation formation on deep wound. Therefore, we performed this study to assess the effectiveness of NPWT for various wound condition in burn center. METHODS: We enrolled 17 patients who were treated with NPWT from January 2014 to April 2016. We analyzed the characteristics and outcomes of the patients through retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 17 patients, there were 13 patients for contact burn, 2 patients for electrical injury, 1 patient for diabetic foot ulcer and 1 patient for Flame burn. Most of the contact burn victims were injured by the exposure of relatively low temperature for a long time and some of them were injured under the condition of sensory deterioration including spinal cord injury, diabetes or sedatives. Wound coverage was accomplished by split thickness skin graft (STSG) in 12 patients. Local flap was done in 1 patient. STSG with local flap was done in 3 patients. And there were 1 patient who got a conservative management. The duration of NPWT application was from 8 days to 101 days (average 36.2 days). CONCLUSION: NPWT showed good clinical outcomes under various wound condition. Therefore, we think that it can be a new treatment paradigm for difficult wound management in burn center.
Bandages ; Burn Units* ; Burns* ; Diabetic Foot ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

Pyoderma gangrenosum(PG) is an uncommon cutaneous vascular disease that typically presents as a painful and destructive ulceration on the anterior surface of the legs. The etiology of PG is currently unknown. But, the association with many immunologic disorders and its clinical response to immunomodulating agents suggest an immune etiology. A common feature of patients with PG is the presence of pathergy(the induction of lesion following injury of the skin). The trauma of surgery can be sufficient to induce pathergy, thus paradoxically limiting the usefulness of surgical treatment of PG. For that reason, medical treatments have been commonly used, while surgical treatments have been regarded not suitable. However, the use of the classic systemic agents is limited by their side effects and contraindications. Moreover, the large, problematic ulcers take too long to heal with medical management only. We present our experience in closing large wounds with the goal of decreasing morbidity, drug side effects and hospital stay by combination of medical and surgical therapy(split thickness skin graft). And authors advocate that surgical management is not a contraindication and may be considered as a selective modality in treatment of PG.
Humans ; Leg ; Length of Stay ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Vascular Diseases ; Wounds and Injuries