Assessment and management of diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers can cause considerable disability and morbidity. The complex pathology requires expert and in-depth assessment and management to achieve the best outcomes. Assessment is underpinned by attention to four key points: vascular sufficiency, neurological/sensory status, appropriatene...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	British journal of community nursing Vol. 16; no. 10; p. 485
Main Authors:	Roberts, Peter, Newton, Veronica
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England 01-10-2011
Subjects:	Diabetic Foot - nursing Diabetic Foot - physiopathology Diabetic Foot - therapy Humans Nursing Assessment Patient Education as Topic Wound Infection - prevention & control
Online Access:	Get more information
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Diabetic foot ulcers can cause considerable disability and morbidity. The complex pathology requires expert and in-depth assessment and management to achieve the best outcomes. Assessment is underpinned by attention to four key points: vascular sufficiency, neurological/sensory status, appropriateness of footwear, and presence of foot deformity. The 'shopping list' for management is derived from the assessment and requires careful planning and a multidisciplinary approach. This article outlines key first line principles and practices in assessment and management of diabetic foot ulcers, including the importance of offloading pressure and mechanical trauma to aid healing and prevent recurrence.
ISSN:	1462-4753
DOI:	10.12968/bjcn.2011.16.10.485