Intervention for Early Wound Healing Using Foot Care Community Medicine Path

Abstract

 Chronic limb-threatening ischemia salvage requires a multidisciplinary approach, primarily involving revascularization and wound care. In cases involving lower extremity wounds, healing time is required even after revascularization. Restenosis increases the risk of infection from wound deterioration and toe amputation. In addition to daily foot care, regular blood flow assessments, local treatments, and revascularization when needed are necessary to prevent lower extremity amputation and promote wound healing. It is challenging to provide continuous treatment until wound healing at a single hospital; thus, after hospital discharge, collaboration with nearby medical institutions and home nursing stations is important. Our hospital has developed and implemented a “Foot Care Community Medicine Path” to share patient information with local medical institutions and facilities, such as dialysis hospitals and home nursing stations, to promote unified foot care. Herein, we report a case where major amputation was avoided due to use of the collaborative path and unified foot care methods. This approach also enhanced the patient’s self-care skills and allowed for the early detection of lesions. Herein, the effectiveness of the Foot Care Community Medicine Path is reported through an examination of case studies.