What is the role of Achilles tendon in diabetic foot ulcer and can surgery help?
Diabetic patients frustrated by hard-to-heal, infection-prone ulcers on their feet could benefit from a common, minimally invasive surgical procedure to relieve tightness in their Achilles tendons. The Achilles is the largest tendon in the human body, connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone. As we age, the tendon naturally tightens. However, diabetes exacerbates the process as increased blood sugar levels deposit glucose in the collagen of the tendon, greatly reducing its elasticity and making stretching almost impossible. A tight Achilles inhibits ankle movement, forcing diabetic patients to place excessive pressure on the front of the foot. Pressure normally absorbed by the ankle has to go somewhere else and the forefoot gets most of it, heightening the risk for ulcer development underneath the toe joints. Foot sores or ulcers are a common complication of diabetes. They result from sensation loss or neuropathy, which deprives diabetes patients of their ability to feel pressure o
