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STUDY EVALUATES BOTOX INJECTIONS FOR TREATING DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS
08 August 2006 - Washington University in St Louis
| Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are seeking volunteers to participate in a study to determine if botulinum toxin injections can help heal diabetic foot ulcers. |
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are seeking volunteers to participate in a study to determine if botulinum toxin injections can help heal diabetic foot ulcers. Seventeen million Americans live with diabetes, and one of the major complications from the disease is foot wounds that won't heal. Untreated ulcers can lead to infection and in severe cases to amputation of the feet and legs. In past studies, patients who underwent surgery to lengthen the Achilles tendon reduced their risk of ulcer recurrence. Lengthening the Achilles tendon, or heel cord, weakened the calf muscle and diminished the pressure on the ball of the foot, where ulcers occur. Researchers at Washington University decided to see if Botox injections, which have been shown to weaken calf muscles in other studies, could have the same effect on pressure on the ball of the foot. They postulate that gradual return of pressure and muscle strength will be similar to that experienced by the Achilles lengthening surgery without the complications and costs of surgery. To qualify for the study, volunteers must have diabetes, be able to walk and have a recurrent foot ulcer. During five study visits over a two-year period, volunteers will undergo wound care assessment, and evaluation of balance, muscle strength, sensory skills and heel bone density. They will receive Botox injections in the calf muscle during one study visit.
http://www.wustl.edu
About: Washington University in St Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a medium-sized, independent research university dedicated to challenging its faculty and students alike to seek new knowledge and greater understanding of an ever-changing, multicultural world. The university is counted among the world's leaders in teaching and research and draws students and faculty to St. Louis from all 50 states and more than 90 other nations. With 6,509 undergraduates and 5,579 graduate and professional students, as well as 1,384 part-time students, Washington University offers more than 90 programs and nearly 1,500 courses in a broad spectrum of traditional and interdisciplinary majors.Founded in 1853 by St. Louisans, Washington University is highly regarded for its commitment to excellence in learning. Its programs, administration, facilities, resources, and activities combine to further its mission of teaching, research, and service to society. Set amid a thriving metropolitan region of 2.6 million residents, the University benefits from the vast array of social, cultural, and recreational opportunities offered by the St. Louis area. Bordered on the east by St. Louis' famed Forest Park and on the north, west, and south by well-established suburbs, the 169-acre Hilltop Campus features predominantly Collegiate Gothic architecture, including a number of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. |
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