How is diabetic foot ulcer diagnosed?
How is diabetic foot ulcer diagnosed?
The diagnosis of a diabetic foot ulcer is done by a vascular specialist. Normally, the condition can be identified with a physical examination. The doctor will ask if you have other conditions like arterial disease or peripheral neuropathy (both conditions are common amongst diabetic patients).
The doctor will further inspect the foot, toes, toenails, and your leg for more cuts, blisters, scratches, etc. that can also develop into ulcers. After gathering your medical history and physical exam, the surgeon will suggest the following tests to obtain more information about the condition and its plausible treatment. The tests include:
- X-Ray to check the alignment and density of the bones.
- MRI scan to create a 3-D image of the soft tissues and determine the extent of damage to the nerves and bones.’
Blood test to look for signs of infections within the ulcer. - The results of these tests will help the surgeon to narrow down the treatment options and determine the right course of action to resolve the problem.
Diabetic Foot Ulcer Treatment
How is diabetic foot ulcer diagnosed?
The diagnosis of a diabetic foot ulcer is done by a vascular specialist. Normally, the condition can be identified with a physical examination. The doctor will ask if you have other conditions like arterial disease or peripheral neuropathy (both conditions are common amongst diabetic patients).
The doctor will further inspect the foot, toes, toenails, and your leg for more cuts, blisters, scratches, etc. that can also develop into ulcers. After gathering your medical history and physical exam, the surgeon will suggest the following tests to obtain more information about the condition and its plausible treatment. The tests include:
- X-Ray to check the alignment and density of the bones.
- MRI scan to create a 3-D image of the soft tissues and determine the extent of damage to the nerves and bones.’
Blood test to look for signs of infections within the ulcer. - The results of these tests will help the surgeon to narrow down the treatment options and determine the right course of action to resolve the problem.
At Pristyn Care, we make sure that every person who needs advanced diabetic foot ulcer treatment in Chandigarh gets optimal care. We leverage modern technology and treat patients with compassion to understand and resolve their problems.
Under the care of our vascular doctors, you can get all kinds of treatment as suited in your particular case. The various treatment methods for diabetic foot ulcers involve the following:
- Off-loading or Total Contact Casting (TCC)- It is a non-surgical treatment that relieves the pressure in the ulcerated area with the help of specially designed shoes, casts, foot braces, compression wraps, or shoe inserts.
- Debridement– It is the removal of hyperkeratotic tissue, fibrin, biofilm, and even necrotic tissues from the ulcer to aid the healing process. Debridement allows fresh blood to reach the damaged vessels and promotes healing.
- Reconstructive Foot & Ankle Surgery- If the damage to the nerves and bone is extensive, the doctor may recommend reconstruction of the foot and ankle through a combination of procedures, such as arthroplasty, resection, tendon transfer, tendon lengthening, etc. This surgery helps to rebalance the foot and works through internal surgical offloading.
- Vascular Reconstruction- In chronic cases, the doctor may have to perform a vascular reconstruction surgery for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. Synthetic grafts (blood vessels) are taken from the other parts of the body and they are used to recreate the blood vessels that were damaged due to the ulceration. Once the blood flow is restored, the nerves and wound can start to heal.
Diabetic foot ulcer treatment can be a complex procedure. Therefore, it is crucial that you find a reliable diabetic foot ulcer doctor in Chandigarh and undergo surgery after learning everything about the treatment procedures. You can either get treatment under Pristyn Care vascular doctors or also seek their help to get a second opinion for the treatment of the diabetic foot ulcer.