Is intermittent pulsatile pressure a valuable adjunct in healing the complicated diabetic wound?

Diabetic neuropathic ulceration and subsequent lower extremity amputation are a significant cause of chronic disability. High-risk diabetic patients with infected foot wounds, poor lower extremity blood flow, and inadequately controlled blood glucose require prompt action by clinicians in order to successfully avoid more severe sequelae. Dysvascular patients who are poor candidates for arterial bypass surgery may benefit from adjunctive treatment with a pneumatic pedal compression device. The authors discuss the rationale behind this unique treatment modality and present a case report illustrating a successful outcome in a high-risk diabetic patient.