TITLE:
Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcers Using Negative Pressure with Locally Available Materials
AUTHORS:
Joseph Yorke, Joseph Akpaloo, Pius Agbenorku
KEYWORDS:
Diabetic Ulcers; Negative Pressure Therapy; Cost; Locally Manufactured Materials
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Plastic Surgery,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
4,
2013
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Diabetic
ulcers are one of the main causes of morbidity and hospitalisation and thereby
affecting the quality of life of persons suffering from the condition. The aim
of the study was to assess the level of satisfaction of persons who underwent
treatment for diabetic ulcers using negative pressure produced from locally
available materials. Materials and Methods: Creating negative pressure using locally
available materials such as sterilized foam, tubes with diameter between
0.5 and 0.8 cm, transparent adhesive plaster and a suction machine. Results: Thirty-seven patients were
enrolled in the current study; 70.3% (n = 26) were known diabetic patients on
regular treatment while 29.7% (n = 11) were diagnosed
when they presented for the first time with ulcers. Patients were made to grade
their level of satisfaction with therapy involving these locally used
materials. Out of the 37 patients, 35 (94.6%) stated their therapy was excellent while 1 (2.7%) said the therapy was good;
therapy was discontinued in one patient (2.7%) who had some complication. Conclusion: Desirable outcomes were obtained when patients were treated using negative
pressure wound therapy (NPWT) produced using locally manufactured materials.
Patients were able to pay for the therapy since the cost was reasonably low.