A case series which looked at the management of four frail, septic patients with severe diabetic foot ulcers found that negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) “consistently supported wound stabilisation and granulation”.
It also highlighted that electrospun nanofiber dressings may enhance wound healing dynamics, representing a promising adjunct in advanced diabetic foot care.
Other key findings from the case series include:
- Multidisciplinary management, including surgical, vascular, and metabolic optimisation, remains central to limb-salvage strategies in complex diabetic foot infections.
- Frailty, rather than chronological age, emerged as a critical determinant of clinical trajectory and healing potential in septic surgical patients.
The four patients were treated between 2023 and 2025 in an academic surgical department.
All four required surgical intervention, including debridement or partial amputation, combined with negative pressure wound therapy and, in selected cases, revascularisation or skin grafting.
One case utilised an electrospun nanofiber dressing which enhanced wound granulation and shortened healing time.
Outcomes varied according to systemic comorbidities, vascular status and glycaemic control; however, NPWT consistently supported wound stabilisation and preparation for definitive closure.
The authors concluded: “These findings reinforce the essential role of interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced wound technologies in the treatment of complex diabetic foot infections, particularly in frail or septic patients, and highlight the potential of nanofiber-based dressings as adjunctive therapies in comprehensive diabetic foot care.”
Read more in the International Wound Journal
