Search Results
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer and accounts for 20% of cutaneous malignancies. We report the case of a patient who presented with a complaint of nonhealing wounds following radiation therapy for the treatment of noninvasive squamous cell carcinoma of both lower extremities. Initial biopsies of the wounds were benign. However, a second biopsy performed approximately 2 months later was found to be positive for invasive squamous cell carcinoma. This case uniquely exemplifies that all nonhealing wounds should be viewed with a critical eye for possible malignancy even in the presence of previous negative biopsy. This is especially true for radiation wounds that may be prone to malignant transformation or recurrence. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 101(4): 360–362, 2011)
The Role of Interdisciplinary Team Approach in the Management of the Diabetic Foot
A Joint Statement from the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American Podiatric Medical Association
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) recognize the beneficial impact of a multidisciplinary team approach on the care of patients with critical limb ischemia, especially in the diabetic population. As a first step in identifying clinical issues and questions important to both memberships, and to work together to find solutions that will benefit the shared patient, the two organizations appointed a representative group to write a joint statement on the importance of multidisciplinary team approach to the care of the diabetic foot. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 100(4): 309–311, 2010)
This case report presents a rare postoperative dislocation of the fifth metatarsal base following a healed open partial fourth and fifth ray amputation of a 62-year-old male veteran with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. The dislocated fifth metatarsal base subsequently created a chronic ulceration and an inhibition of normal gait. The patient was taken to the operating room where the fifth metatarsal base was resected with transfer of the peroneus brevis tendon to the cuboid to maintain biomechanical stability. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 102(1): 71–74, 2012)
We report on a patient with a large, painful hypertrophic scar on the plantar aspect of the left foot who was treated with carbon dioxide laser and a skin substitute (Apligraf) and followed up for longer than 1 year. To our knowledge, no other case reports have been published on the use of a skin substitute to gain coverage and resolution after excision of a hypertrophic scar by carbon dioxide laser. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 94(1): 61-64, 2004)
Squamous cell carcinomas are often seen on the sun-exposed areas of the skin and are rarely observed on the digits of the foot. However, there have been incidences of squamous cell carcinoma developing in the presence of chronic wounds with osteomyelitis, thus complicating the treatment. We present a patient with osteomyelitis who developed invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the third digit. We conclude that wounds with osteomyelitis may have underlying pathologic abnormalities that are not obvious on initial presentation.
Background:
There is an increased prevalence of foot ulceration in patients with diabetes, leading to hospitalization. Early wound closure is necessary to prevent further infections and, ultimately, lower-limb amputations. There is no current evidence stating that an elevated preoperative hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level is a contraindication to skin grafting. The purpose of this review was to determine whether elevated HbA1c levels are a contraindication to the application of skin grafts in diabetic patients.
Methods:
A retrospective review was performed of 53 consecutive patients who underwent split-thickness skin graft application to the lower extremity between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2015. A uniform surgical technique was used across all of the patients. A comparison of HbA1c levels between failed and healed skin grafts was reviewed.
Results:
Of 43 surgical sites (41 patients) that met the inclusion criteria, 27 healed with greater than 90% graft take and 16 had a skin graft that failed. There was no statistically significant difference in HbA1c levels in the group that healed a skin graft compared with the group in which skin graft failed to adhere.
Conclusions:
Preliminary data suggest that an elevated HbA1c level is not a contraindication to application of a skin graft. The benefits of early wound closure outweigh the risks of skin graft application in patients with diabetes.
