Abstract
Diabetic foot ulcerations (DFUs) remain a severe complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and the most critical risk factor for lower limb amputations. Their management involves a dynamic approach which includes wound debridement, antibiotics to treat infections, mechanical off-loading, as well as foot care education. However, the overall wound management of chronic DFUs can undergo extended periods without any healing response due to multiple complex pathophysiological mechanisms which are involved in patients who have diabetes. Despite all the challenges faced with managing or treating DFUs, several clinical trials suggest Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), more recently termed Photobiomodulation (PBM), as an alternative promising treatment modality. Photobiomodulation has shown potential in improving the healing rate of chronic diabetic ulcerations when combined with other conventional treatments. However, until this study, there have been no studies, in South Africa, that have investigated the effects of Blue laser therapy in the management of DFUs and whether skin tone has a positive or negative impact in these patients...
M.Tech. (Podiatry)