title: Vacuum assisted closure improves the quality of life in patients with diabetic foot.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is the most common endocrine disease worldwide. One of the most important chronic complications of this disease is the development of diabetic foot. The management of diabetic foot wounds is quite important with respect to public health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) therapy on the quality of life in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and compare it with standart wound care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2007 to December 2008, 67 consecutive patients with diabetic foot ulcers were randomly assigned to VAC therapy (Group 1, n : 30) or standart wound care (Group 2, n : 37). The SF-36 questionnaire was administered the day before and in the month following wound healing. Global analyses of the 8 domains and 2 comprehensive indexes of SF-36, Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) were performed. Clinical measures included standard antidiabetic treatment, daily wound care including antiseptic bath, debridement, toe removal for gangrene when necessary, and wound care with conventional methods or VAC. Healing time was calculated as the time from hospital admission to the time of re-epithelization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences in the mean age, ulcer size and pulse status of the patients in both groups. Healing time in the VAC group was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). All 8 domains of SF-36 and MCS and PCS scores improved remarkably after VAC therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vacuum Assisted Closure therapy was found to be effective in the treatment of chronic diabetic ulcers. The improvement of quality of life demonstrates a clear-cut indication in this particular group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karatepe
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eken
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acet
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mert
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karahan
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Filizcan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ugurlucan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aksoy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology