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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2005; 113(2): 90-93
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830537
Article

J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Healing Times and Prediction of Wound Healing in Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Ulcers: a Prospective Study

S. Zimny1 , M. Pfohl1
  • 1Department for Internal Medicine, EVK Bethesda of Duisburg, Teaching Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: January 22, 2004 First decision: June 21, 2004

Accepted: September 9, 2004

Publication Date:
17 March 2005 (online)

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Abstract

Time line of wound healing and prediction of healing times in diabetic foot ulcers is an important issue. Usually, the percentage of wounds healed within a defined period is used for characterization of wound healing.

R = sqrt {A/pi } (R, radius; A, planimetric wound area; π, constant 3.14), and the wound radius reduction was 0.39 mm/week which was previously established.

The initial average wound area was 96.9 ± 13.1 mm2 (mean ± SEM), and 3.61 ± 1.6 mm2 after ten weeks with an average healing time of 75.9 (95 %-CI 71 - 81) days. Using the equation mentioned above and the calculated weekly wound radius reduction, the predicted healing time in the test group was 86.9 (95 %-CI 73 - 101) days. The predicted and the observed healing times were significantly correlated with each other (r = 0.55, p = 0.0002).

Providing standard care, the time needed for wound healing can reliably be predicted in neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers. This may be a useful tool in daily clinical practice to predict wound healing and recognize ulcers who do not respond adequately to the treatment.

Key words

Diabetes - Diabetic foot ulcer - healing time - wound healing - neuropathy

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MD Stefan Zimny

EVK Bethesda of Duisburg
Teaching Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf
Department for Internal Medicine

Heerstraße 219

47053 Duisburg

Germany

Phone: + 49(0)20360081360

Fax: + 49 (0) 2 03 60 08 13 99

Email: Stefan.Zimny@ruhr-uni-bochum.de