KONTAN.CO.ID – JAKARTA. Not a few diabetic patients who have to undergo amputation due to leg injuries. If treated as early as possible, amputation can be prevented.
Statistics show that the amputation procedure in 6 out of 7 diabetic foot patients begins with a simple wound.
“In fact, 85% of these injuries can actually be prevented and treated properly so that they do not develop into a more serious direction,” said a wound specialist, Adisaputra Ramadhinara, MsC, in a virtual discussion (30/7/2021).
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Adi said that many of the patients who came were already in black, festering, and foul-smelling leg ulcers. Sores on the feet that rot and fester is one of the complications of diabetes mellitus.
Ulcers are usually triggered by narrowing of peripheral blood vessels. This causes the tissue in the legs to die because it is not supplied with blood and lacks oxygen and nutrients.
High blood sugar levels make it easier for germs to multiply so that the infection in the wound spreads. “Wounds that appear on the legs should not be ignored, treated immediately. Currently, there are many medical advances to minimize body parts that must be removed. Amputation is not the main solution,” said the doctor from Heartology Brawijaya Hospital Jakarta.
Currently, wound care always emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary cooperation. In the case of diabetic wounds on the feet, wound care can be handled by a wound specialist.
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However, if there is blockage of blood vessels in the legs, it is necessary to involve a vascular specialist for revascularization or improvement of blood flow to the legs to support the optimal wound healing process.
“The doctor will evaluate whether the blood flow is smooth or not. Blocked blood flow that is not repaired makes the wound difficult to heal and must be amputated, “he said.
Gauze is not recommended
In addition, Adi also does not recommend the use of gauze to cover diabetic wounds on the feet.
“Many think that the wound is closed so that it is clean, bacteria does not enter and does not become infected. In fact, bacteria can penetrate up to 64 layers of gauze,” said the doctor who took the wound specialist in America.
He added, there are various choices of wound dressings that are more recommended according to the type of wound and provide optimal results in maintaining wound cleanliness. To prevent the wound from getting worse, diabetic patients must also control their blood sugar levels. (Editor: Lusia Kus Anna)
This article has been published on Kompas.com with the title “Prevent Amputation, Immediately Treat Wounds due to Diabetes”
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