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Pain Management 2016
October 03-04, 2016
Volume 5, Issue 5(Suppl) J Pain Relief
ISSN: 2167-0846 JPAR, an open access journal
conferenceseries .com
October 03-04, 2016 Vancouver, Canada
International Conference on
Pain Research & Management
Nteleki Bahle, J Pain Relief 2016, 5:5(Suppl)
The use of phototherapy and podiatric intervention to manage chronic lower limb ulcerations in
patients with type II diabetes mellitus: A pilot study
Nteleki Bahle
University of Johannesburg, South Africa
The nature of chronic diabetic limb ulcerations makes them generally difficult to manage and resolve. Management of
diabetic ulcers is extremely challenging and commonly requires a multi-disciplinary approach. Phototherapy, or low level
laser therapy (LLLT), is a therapeutic treatment modality which has been found to enhance the wound healing characteristics
in previous studies. This study aimed to establish whether the application of phototherapy and podiatric interventions improves
the rate of wound healing in chronic diabetic foot ulcers. A single-blinded randomized placebo-controlled design were utilized
to study chronic lower limb ulcers affecting patients with type II DM. Ulcers are divided into 3 groups: Group 1 was treated
with podiatric management and placebo phototherapy; Group 2 was treated similarly but with the addition of phototherapy to
the ulcer/s at 3 joules per square centimeter (J/cm2) and; Group 3 was treated similarly but in addition to laser treatment of the
ulcer/s, phototherapy was also applied to the regional lymphatic nodes. Six patients, with a mean age of 65 years, were treated.
Ulcers responded equally well to podiatric treatment protocols, while those exposed to phototherapy showed no adverse side-
effects. 25% of ulcers in group 1, and 40% of ulcers in both Groups 2 and 3 resolved completely. The rate of resolution varied
from 12 days to 90 days. It is apparent that, this modality may have a beneficiary affect in decreasing the patient’s levels
secondary complications, improving wound regeneration and patients quality of life.
Biography
Nteleki Bahle has completed his BTech Degree from the University of Johannesburg. He is currently employed in the Department of Health as a Practicing Podiatrist
in Pretoria, South Africa and has published research both nationally and internationally. He has enrolled at the University of Pretoria for pursuing his Master’s in
Public Health.