The effectiveness of removable cast walker in the healing of diabetic neuropathic ulcer in Basra

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most common causes of lower limb amputation in diabetic patients, the ulcer occurs commonly in the plantar aspect of the foot (weight bearing area). To evaluate the effectiveness of the use of a removable cast walker (RCW) in the healing of the diabetic neuropathic plantar foot ulcerations. This study was done at Al-Fayha general hospital, Basra, Iraq. A prospective study between August 2016 and September 2018 on 29 adult patients, 22 males and 7 females with a neuropathic plantar foot ulcer. The minimum age of patients was thirty-nine years and the maximum was seventy years; with a mean age of (55.79 +/-7.7) years. This study also showed the relationship between the healing rate and the site of neuropathic ulcers and it had been observed that the number of healed ulcers in the fore- foot were eighteen patients (78.3%) of all patients with forefoot ulcers. Removable cast walker is an effective method in the treatment of diabetic neuropathic non-ischemic foot ulceration.