What is the most important part of healing a diabetic foot ulcer?
The most important steps in the promotion of healing in a diabetic ulcer are offloading and debridement. The foundation for comprehensive care of diabetic foot ulcers is the removal of all non-viable, infected tissue and bone from open wounds, as well as any surrounding calluses, until a new border of healthy, bleeding soft tissue and uninfected bone are formed. Debridement is helpful not only in removing abnormal tissue (i.e., hyperkeratotic epidermis) and significant amounts of bacteria. In addition, debridement results in the release of growth factors that begin the healing process.
