Staged management of a large ischemic heel ulcer in a diabetes patient: a case report

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Jun 16:14:1198818. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1198818. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Heel ulcer is one of the severe complications of patients with diabetes mellitus, which poses a high risk for foot infection and amputation, especially in patients with peripheral arterial disease and neuropathy. Researchers have searched for new treatments for treating diabetic foot ulcers in recent years. In this case report, we demonstrated the treatment of large ischemic ulcers for the first time in a diabetic patient. The overall treatment goal of this patient was designed to improve blood supply to her diseased lower extremities and close the ulcer. This two-stage reconstruction approach resulted in an ulcer-free, stable, plantigrade foot at postoperative follow-up.

Keywords: heel ulcer; ischemic; peroneal artery perforator flap; staged; vascular reconstruction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amputation, Surgical
  • Diabetes Mellitus*
  • Diabetic Foot* / complications
  • Diabetic Foot* / surgery
  • Female
  • Heel / surgery
  • Humans
  • Ischemia / complications
  • Ischemia / surgery
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease* / complications
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease* / surgery
  • Wound Healing

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81770810). The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the participants in this study and their families.