Comparison of Outcomes of Two Different Treatment Methods In The Management of Diabetic Foot Ulcer

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of surgical versus non- surgical treatment in the management of Diabetic Foot Ulcer. A Prospective Observational Study which was carried out in the Department of Surgery of Rajah Muthiah Medical College Hospital a tertiary health care hospital in Chidambaram, Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu in the period of November 2016 to April, 2017 (6 months). The patient demographic, disease, ulcer size, drugs and treatment prescribed were collected in a specially designed data collection form which also included bacterial culture tests. Upon enrolment for the study 65% (39) of the patients diagnosed for diabetic foot were male and 35% (21) were female. The demographic classification suggests that diabetic foot incidence has increased upon ages of people ranging between the mean ages of 45+/- 5 years to 60+/-5 years. The bacterial distribution over the patients showed that, out of which Escherichia coli (28.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (15%) are the most common bacteria. The outcomes mainly depend upon the grading of infection and ulcer size. The superficial ulcers can be treated more effectively with antibiotics and regular dressings, whereas the deep ulcers and gangrene should be intervened with surgical procedures. The assessed study reports that clinical pharmacist intervention by patient education and medication counselling creates a significant influence in medication adherence Keywords: Diabetic foot ulcer, surgical treatment, Non-surgical treatment, management