PHOTOTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS

Foot ulcers are a disabling complication that affect 15% to 25% of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) at some point in their lives. The nature of diabetic foot ulcers makes them difcult to manage and treat. A dynamic management plan is required to treat diabetic lower limb ulcerations. This involves a strategic approach, including mechanical ofoading, wound debridement, wound dressing, patient education and surgical intervention. Phototherapy is a relatively new, non-invasive, and pain-free treatment method, which promotes the ulcer repair process through multiple mechanisms such as increased cell growth and vascular activity. Phototherapy can be used as an alternative approach to conventional wound management, for the treatment of foot ulcers in people with diabetes (DM). Phototherapy, or low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is a therapeutic treatment modality that has been found to enhance wound healing, decrease the level of secondary complications, improve wound regeneration, and ultimately improve patient quality of life. To assess Objectives: the effects of phototherapy for the treatment of foot ulcers in people with diabetes. A randomized Methodology: cross sectional study was conducted among 80 patients with diabetic foot ulcer. They were divided into two groups A and B, each consisting of 40 patients. Group A were subjected to phototherapy and Group B to conventional wound dressings. Patients were followed up to observe for change in ulcer size, complications and hospital stay. The wounds in subjects treate Results: d with LLLT contracted signicantly more than the wounds in the Group B (37.2% for the LLLT group versus 15.12% for the control group, p < 0.001), which indicates that LLLT is an effective modality to facilitate wound contraction in patients suffering from diabetes and can be used as an adjunct to conventional mode of treatment for healing of diabetic wounds.