Novel Offloading for Diabetic Foot Ulcers With PulseFlow: A Prospective Study
Diabetic Foot UlcerOffloadingDiabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is a common and largely preventable complication of diabetes. While most of these ulcers can be treated successfully, some will persist and become infected. Ultimately, nearly one fifth of patients with infected lower-extremity diabetic ulcers will require amputation of the affected limb, resulting in staggering costs for both the patient and the healthcare system. Prevention by identifying people at higher risk is key for better clinical management of such patients. It is not uncommon for patients suffering from diabetes to have concomitant lower extremity edema or venous insufficiency and they subsequently may benefit from graduated compression. However, because of the common association of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients with diabetes, most clinicians are reluctant to apply compressive dressings in fear of exacerbating the symptoms of PAD and possibility of gangrene. A novel low voltage, battery powered medical device, PulseFlow DF® (The Diabetic Boot Company, Ltd. UK) has endeavored to assist in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers. The device provides hybrid functionality i.e. mobile air bladder pump at plantar arch and offloading boot. The air bladder inflates to 160 mmHg for approx. 1 second then deflates back to atmospheric pressure, allowing the plantar vessels sufficient time to refill. The offloading boot design holds the foot and lower leg in a position that reduces shear and friction forces and provides a reduction in plantar pressure. The PulseFlow DF is designed to record how many hours of blood pumping it has delivered. This data will be downloaded at each clinic visit. The boot cannot pump blood around the participant's foot unless fitted correctly and the battery is charged up overnight. The purpose of this study is to conduct an interventional study study with N=15 diabetic subjects with active foot ulcers to assess whether PulseFlow foot compression device can help improve lower extremity perfusion, whilst improving balance and spatio-temporal parameters of gait. The key goals of the proposed project are to test whether a specially designed compression device can improve lower extremity perfusion, whilst also simultaneously improving the balance and walking performance. Investigators envision the use of this specially designed offloading device with compression capability will help reduce the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers in high-risk diabetic patients. In addition, investigators assumed the proposed device might enhance daily physical activity as well as walking performance. Investigators will conduct a prospective clinical study to validate these hypotheses. Potential changes in walking and spontaneous daily physical activities will be assessed using validated technologies that include walking analyzer system, balance assessment using body worn sensors, and computerized pressure insoles.
A Prospective Study of Endothelial Dysfunction and Diabetic Foot Ulcer Risk
Diabetic Foot UlcersThis project will identify risk factors for diabetic foot ulcer by studying the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and foot ulcer risk. A fundamental defect in type 1 and 2 diabetic subjects is impaired vasodilatory reserve which is reflected in the dysfunction of endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Findings thus far point to an important role of the microvasculature in the development of diabetic foot ulcer and amputation. In this study a a well-characterized cohort of 750 diabetic veterans without foot ulcer will be followed over 3-years.
3C Patch® Medicare Claims Study
Diabetic Foot UlcerThis prospective study will compare incidence rates of complete hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcer healing in Medicare beneficiaries following application of the 3C Patch® plus usual care, tested against a historical control group of similar patients that received usual care during a randomized controlled trial.
Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) Biofilm Infection and Recurrence
Wound InfectionWound Heal4 moreDiabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of the most common reasons for hospitalization of diabetic patients and frequently results in amputation of lower limbs. Of the one million people who undergo non-traumatic leg amputations annually worldwide, 75% are performed on people who have type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The risk of death at 10 years for a diabetic with DFU is twice as high as the risk for a patient without a DFU. The rate of amputation in patients with DFU is 38.4%4. Infection is a common (>50%) complication of DFU. Emerging evidence underscores the significant risk that biofilm infection poses to the non-healing DFU. Biofilms are estimated to account for 60% of chronic wound infections. In the biofilm form, bacteria are in a dormant metabolic state. Thus, standard clinical techniques like the colony forming unit (CFU) assay to detect infection may not detect biofilm infection. Thus, biofilm infection may be viewed as a silent maleficent threat in wound care.
Impact of Sleep Apnea on Diabetic Foot Wound.
Diabetic FootSleep ApneaSleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is a common comorbidity of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A low transcutaneous oxygen tension (PtcO2) measured on the foot is pejorative prognostic factor for the healing of a diabetic foot wound. SAS causes intermittent nocturnal hypoxia and sympathetic overactivity. The investigators hypothesized that SAS could be a factor reducing the PtcO2.Therefore, the main objective of this study is to assess the variation in PtcO2 between the end of the night and midday in patients with -or at risk of- diabetic foot wound according to the presence or not of sleep apnea syndrome.The secondary objective is to address the microvascularisation of diabetic patients having foot wounds according to their status regarding sleep apnea syndrome.
A Feasibility Study of Advance Plasma Therapy001 Plasma/Nitric Oxide Therapy for the Treatment of...
Diabetic Foot UlcerThe clinical trial will assess the delivery of Nitric Oxide topically to the diabetic foot ulcer wound and the surrounding wound area as it related to wound healing. The objective of the study is to assess the Nitric Oxide Therapy treatment time (the number of minutes to deliver the treatment) and frequency (number of days per week to treat) to determine the most optimal treatment time and frequency to develop a rationale for safety and efficacy for the final APT001 clinical study.
Study Assessing Safety and Efficacy of B-cure Laser Treating Diabetic Chronic Wounds
Diabetic Foot UlcerFor centuries, light has been a well-known and effective healing method. In the beginning of the 20th century there was a first attempt to condense light energy and distribute it in higher levels, a use that was successfully applied on many soldiers wounded in the Second World War. The laser, which is based on the quantum phenomenon of stimulated emission, was first demonstrated in the beginning of the 1960s and immediately received many applications in all areas of medicine.Many different studies were carried out in the past decade trying to assess the effect of laser therapy on properties of healing wounds. This study aim to assess the efficacy and safety of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of non-healing diabetic foot ulcers.
Breathing-based Leg Resistance Exercise Improves Wound Healing, Blood Sugar and Quality of Life...
Diabetic FootResistance Exercise3 moreThe purpose of the study was designed leg resistance training combined with breathing approach, and evaluated its effect on wound healing, blood sugar control and quality of life in type 2 diabetic patients with foot ulcers.
Clinical Investigation of Sorbact® Dressings
Hard-to-heal WoundsDiabetic Foot Ulcer3 moreThe main purpose of this exploratory clinical investigation is to study the binding of bacteria and fungi from hard-to-heal wounds to the DACC-coated dressings.
Clinical Evaluation of the Combined Use of Apligraf® and the SNaP® Pressure Wound Therapy System...
Diabetic Foot UlcerThe primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the concurrent use of Apligraf® and the SNaP® Wound Care System for the treatment of diabetic and venous stasis lower extremity ulcers.