Tibial Cortex Transverse Distraction Combined With Debridement and Vacuum Sealing Drainage for Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Validation of Previous Published Study

Abstract Objective: Tibial cortex transverse distraction (TCTD) has been recently reported in treating diabetic foot ulcers. However, there is no further studies verifying the effectiveness. We performed TCTD combined with debridement and vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) for diabetic foot ulcers to test the effectiveness.Methods: This study includes 25 patients with diabetic foot ulcers from 3 hospitals. The ulcers of all the cases didn't heal for over 3 months. Then we performed TCTD combined with debridement and VSD for them. After the surgery, the patients were regularly followed-up for more than one year.Results: Among all the patients, one case underwent amputation because of aggravated infections. There were no cases with complication like tibia fractures. Pin-site infections occurred in 2 patients. The infected pin-site healed after changing dressings for 2 weeks. For the rest 22 patients, their ulcers healed at postoperative 8.2 ± 4.5 weeks. The postoperative visual analogue score (VAS) which indicated pain degree, reduced significantly when compared with preoperative VAS.Conclusions: When combined with other measures like debridement and VSD, TCTD can bring advantages for patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcers, and the trauma of this operation remains a factor to be considered.Type of study/level of evidence: Therapeutic IV.