Results of a prospective observational study of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cell therapy for no-option critical limb-threatening ischemia and severe diabetic foot ulcers.

Background: Cell therapy with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNCs) may help restore limb perfusion in patients with diabetes mellitus and critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) deemed not eligible for revascularization procedures and consequently at risk for major amputation (no-option). Fundamental is to establish its clinical value and to identify candidates with a greater benefit over time. Assessing the frequency of PB circulating angiogenic cells and extracellular vesicles (EVs) may help in guiding candidate selection.

Calciphylaxis in a dialysis patient treated by intralesional and systemic sodium thiosulphate on top of multifactorial intervention.

Calciphylaxis, or calcific uraemic arteriolopathy (CUA), represents a life-threatening disease. Dialysis patients and those receiving warfarin are seen as populations at higher risk for CUA. Treatments for CUA are still uncertain despite the poor survival of the disease.

Square, Random Fasciocutaneous Plantar Flaps for Treating Noninfected Diabetic Plantar Ulcers: A Patient Series.

In patients with diabetes, the off-loading cast has not been widely used to treat plantar ulcers because of its poor acceptance by patients and the high risk of side effects. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of an alternative surgical treatment: a square, fasciocutaneous random plantar flap to cover plantar ulcers. From December 2012 to February 2013, we enrolled 23 consecutive diabetic patients with deep neuropathic or neuroischemic plantar ulcers.

Management of ischemic diabetic foot.

Diabetic foot pathology represent the more disabling complication of diabetes. More the 1 million of diabetes patients undergo a lower limb amputation per year; 85% of these amputation are preceded by un ulcer that can be avoided by a prevention program. Critical limb ischemia (CLI), the only independent cause of major amputation in diabetic population, can be correctly treated when an early diagnosis is made.

The management of the infected diabetic foot.

Diabetes is a chronic disease with a worldwide increasing trend. Foot complications, closely related to neuropathy and obstructive peripheral vascular disease, are responsible for more than 1 million of leg amputations every year. Foot infection can dramatically increase the risk of amputation.

Long-term follow-up of tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis in diabetic patients with early chronic Charcot osteoarthropathy.

Charcot osteoarthropathy with severe ankle instability and deformity is often managed with below-the-knee amputation if deformity and cutaneous compromise result in osteomyelitis. Recently, some surgeons have reported satisfactory outcomes with ankle arthrodesis in the coalescence or remodeling (subacute and chronic) stages of the disease before the onset of joint instability, severe deformity, and ulcer formation. This observational study describes the clinical outcomes of ankle arthrodesis in a cohort of 45 diabetic patients who underwent unilateral ankle arthrodesis for Charcot neuroarthropathic ankle deformity before the development of ulceration and bone infection.

Multicentre observational study of the natural history of left-sided acute diverticulitis.

Background: The natural history of acute diverticulitis (AD) is still unclear. This study investigated the recurrence rate, and the risks of emergency surgery, associated stoma and death following initial medical or surgical treatment of AD.

Methods: The Italian Study Group on Complicated Diverticulosis conducted a 4-year multicentre retrospective and prospective database analysis of patients admitted to hospital for medical or surgical treatment of AD and then followed for a minimum of 9 years.

Effectiveness of removable walker cast versus nonremovable fiberglass off-bearing cast in the healing of diabetic plantar foot ulcer: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a removable cast walker compared with that of a nonremovable fiberglass off-bearing cast in the treatment of diabetic plantar foot ulcer.

Research Design And Methods: Forty-five adult diabetic patients with nonischemic, noninfected neuropathic plantar ulcer were randomly assigned for treatment with a nonremovable fiberglass off-bearing cast (total contact cast [TCC] group) or walker cast (Stabil-D group). Treatment duration was 90 days.

Long-term outcomes after angioplasty of isolated, below-the-knee arteries in diabetic patients with critical limb ischaemia.

Background: It has been shown that concomitant percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of above-the-knee (ATK) and below-the-knee (BTK) arteries is highly beneficial for limb salvage in patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI), but few published studies have specifically investigated outcomes in diabetic patients with CLI associated with isolated small BTK-vessel disease. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term results of successful PTA for limb salvage in such patients.

Materials And Methods: From among the 634 patients with CLI in our database, we retrospectively selected a consecutive series of 101 diabetics (16%) with 107 critically ischaemic limbs (33 Rutherford 5 and 74 Rutherford 6) and no critical ATK lesion, who underwent PTA on isolated BTK lesions.