The healing effect of total contact casting on diabetic foot ulcers

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a prevalent disease worldwide and foot ulcer is one of the serious complications of chronic uncontrolled diabetes which could lead to various complications such as amputation of the extremity if left untreated. Total contact casting (TCC) is the gold standard in treatment of neuropathic and neuro ischemic diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) on which less emphasize is seen on routine medical practice. The aim of this study was to emphasize on healing effect of this off-loading method and to study the possible influence of variants on the healing rate of this technique. Methods: In this cohort study, 92 diabetic patients with complaint of plantar foot ulcer grade 0, 1 and 2 according to Wagner classification had participated in Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Babol City, Iran, from March 2014 to February 2016. The demographic and biochemical information along with dimensions of foot ulcers were carefully recorded. After the primary cleansing, surgical debridement and dressing, TCC was applied on foot by the specialist and they were requested to return weekly for changing the TCC and re-evaluation of ulcers. The healing rate was calculated as decline in ulcer surface area per week. Results: 92 patients of study sample with mean age of 63.9±10.56 year consisted of 76 patients with DM type 2 with BMI of 31.16±3.8 kg/m² and 58 male patients. The average healing rate of ulcers treated with TCC was 0.406 ±0.168 cm²/week. The duration of diabetes on average was 17.23±6.93 years. Most of the patients (n=45) had an ulcer on the forefoot and the healing rate of midfoot ulcers was slower. The average amount of baseline HbA1c was 8.2±0.19%. There was no relation between smoking history (P=0.94) and anti-diabetic regimen used by patients (P=0.754) with the healing rate. Conclusion: The healing rate is slower in elderly patients and those with longer duration of diabetes. So in these two groups, TCC is to be applied for a longer duration in order to achieve complete healing.