A systematic review of foot ulcer in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. II: treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of treatments for foot ulcers in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
A systematic review of interventions to treat diabetic foot ulcers.


RESULTS
The evidence base for treating infections and dressing wounds is poor. A number of new and potentially promising treatments are being developed but currently available studies are often small, inadequately powered and use different methods and outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the prevalence, morbidity and healthcare costs of diabetic foot disease, it is surprising that available trials provide inadequate evidence to improve upon current empirically based treatment approaches. Substantial effort and resources should be deployed in order to investigate both new and existing treatments in a co-ordinated, systematic and consistent manner, so that a proper evidence base can be established for this important disease area.
Mason
J
J
Medicines Evaluation Group, Centre for Health Economics, University of York, UK. jmm7@york.ac.uk
O'Keeffe
C
C
Hutchinson
A
A
McIntosh
A
A
Young
R
R
Booth
A
A
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015995:Prevalence