Surgery Goals in Diabetic Foot Wounds: Expert Treatment in Istanbul
Surgical treatment in diabetic foot wounds is a critical decision that directly affects the patient’s quality of life and health. In this article, we will provide detailed information about the goals of surgery in diabetic foot wounds, modern surgical techniques and expert treatment approaches in Istanbul.
You can read our article What Happens When Diabetes Affects the Feet? to get basic information about diabetic foot.
What is Diabetic Foot and Why is Surgery Needed?
Diabetic foot is a serious complication that occurs in diabetes patients due to insufficient blood sugar control. Among diabetic foot symptoms are numbness, tingling, pain, wounds and infections in the feet. These diabetic foot wounds can worsen over time due to infection, tissue death (necrosis), deep ulcers or circulatory disorders. When applied drug treatments, antibiotics, wound care and pressure-reducing methods are insufficient, diabetic foot surgery comes to the agenda. Surgical treatments applied in Istanbul diabetic foot centers are very important in terms of improving the patient’s quality of life and preventing limb loss.
Basic Goals in Diabetic Foot Surgery
1. Controlling Infection and Preventing Its Spread
One of the biggest risks in diabetic foot patients is the wound becoming infected and this infection spreading from tissue to blood (sepsis). With diabetic foot surgery, infected and dead tissues are cleaned, preventing the progression of infection. Istanbul diabetic foot experts achieve effective results by using modern debridement techniques in this process.
2. Preventing Limb Loss in Life-Threatening Situations
Early and correct surgical intervention can prevent the complete loss of the foot or leg in diabetic foot patients. The aim in diabetic foot Istanbul treatment is to return the patient to a healthy life with the least possible tissue loss. This approach gives much more successful results when diabetic foot symptoms are detected early.
3. Providing Circulation and Improving Blood Flow
Diabetic foot patients usually have vascular occlusion. Istanbul diabetic foot surgeons sometimes open vessels surgically (interventions such as bypass, angioplasty) and provide blood flow for wound healing. These procedures accelerate the healing process of diabetic foot wounds.
4. Accelerating Wound Healing and Preserving Function
With diabetic foot surgery, wound edges are cleaned, dead tissues are removed and wound closure is helped. This ensures that diabetic foot patients preserve their walking and daily life functions. Modern techniques applied in Istanbul diabetic foot centers optimize functional results.
5. Considering Amputation as a Last Resort
One of the most important goals of diabetic foot surgery is to prevent amputation. However, if the patient’s life is at risk and there are no other options, minimal level amputation (such as toe, forefoot) can be performed to prevent the spread of infection. Istanbul diabetic foot experts make this decision very carefully.
Diabetic Foot Surgery in Istanbul and Modern Approaches
Istanbul diabetic foot surgery and treatment is one of the cities with Turkey’s most developed infrastructure. Thanks to multidisciplinary approaches applied by expert physicians in the field such as Prof. Dr. Aytaç Çetinkaya, the chance of diabetic foot patients saving their limbs is quite high.
Modern surgical applications that stand out in diabetic foot Istanbul treatment:
- Debridement: Surgical cleaning of infected and dead tissues
- Vascular Opening Interventions: Opening blocked vessels surgically or with endovascular methods
- Skin Graft and Tissue Transplantation: Healthy tissue transplantation to accelerate wound closure in large diabetic foot wounds
- Minimal Amputations: Removal of only the minimum necessary tissue, paying attention to preserving diabetic foot functions
- Orthopedic Interventions: Correction of diabetic foot deformities, prevention of recurring wounds with the use of special shoes and orthoses
Diabetic Foot Symptoms and Importance of Early Diagnosis
When diabetic foot symptoms are detected early, the need for surgical intervention is significantly reduced. Basic symptoms seen in diabetic foot patients:
- Numbness and tingling sensation in feet
- Pain and burning sensation
- Dryness and cracks in foot skin
- Nail changes
- Changes in foot shape
- Wounds and ulcers
- Signs of infection
Istanbul diabetic foot experts educate patients about early recognition of these symptoms and recommend regular checkups.
Post-Surgery Process and Patient Follow-up
The most important stage after diabetic foot surgery is regular follow-up of the patient and correct wound care. In Istanbul diabetic foot centers, patients are given one-on-one education; detailed information is provided about blood sugar control, pressure-reducing measures and hygiene. In addition, walking function of diabetic foot patients is preserved with physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Post-surgery follow-up process in diabetic foot Istanbul treatment:
- Regular wound care and dressing
- Blood sugar control
- Antibiotic treatment (if necessary)
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Use of special shoes and orthoses
- Regular doctor checkups
Frequently Asked Questions
Does diabetic foot heal without surgery?
If diabetic foot wounds are in the early stage and small, the chance of healing with medical treatment is high. However, diabetic foot surgery may be mandatory in advanced cases.
Do wounds recur after surgery?
With proper care and follow-up, the risk of diabetic foot wounds recurring decreases; however, the risk always continues in diabetes patients. Regular control is essential.
Where is diabetic foot surgery performed in Istanbul?
In diabetic foot Istanbul treatment, centers with experts in the field, working multidisciplinary, and clinics with physicians such as Prof. Dr. Aytaç Çetinkaya should be preferred.
What are diabetic foot symptoms?
Among diabetic foot symptoms are numbness, pain, wounds, infections and circulatory disorders in the feet. When these symptoms are seen, an expert physician should definitely be consulted.
Conclusion and Expert Support
Surgical treatment in diabetic foot wounds is vital for controlling infection, preventing limb loss and improving the patient’s quality of life. With modern surgical methods and expert support in Istanbul diabetic foot treatment, function and quality of life can be preserved in the majority of diabetic foot patients. Diabetic foot surgery should always be considered as a last resort and patient-centered approach should be prioritized.
To get information about your diabetic foot wounds and surgery necessity, you can contact Prof. Dr. Aytaç Çetinkaya to reach the most correct treatment with Istanbul diabetic foot expert support. If you have concerns about diabetic foot symptoms, definitely get expert opinion for early diagnosis and treatment.
You may be interested in: For more information about diabetic foot treatment, you can read our articles on diabetic foot amputation and diabetic foot wound dressing. You can also visit our page for detailed information about our treatment methods.
You can get information from Prof. Dr. Aytaç Çetinkaya for more information.
