Impact of surgical debridement on the degree of pain development in patients with infected diabetic foot in the pre- and postoperative 24-hour time periods

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of surgical debridement on the degree of pain in patients with infected diabetic foot syndrome in the pre- and postoperative 24-hour time periods.

Material and methods: The study during the period from December 2014 to October 2015. The test group included patients with infected diabetic foot syndrome who had undergone surgical wound debridement. The levels of pain before and after surgical debridement were studied using a numeric pain rating scale, developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1994.

Results: Results did not reveal significant differences in the perceived level of pain. The results obtained after dividing the patients into groups showed significantly important differences both in the group of patients whose pain had increased after the procedure, and in patients in whom pain decreased. In 18 patients there was no impact of the degree of pain.

Conclusions:

1. In the study group, general statistical analysis showed no significant differences in the level of pain perceived in the period before and after surgical debridement.

2. Detailed statistical analysis revealed significant differences, which included a decrease in pain the day after surgical debridement in 26% of patients,an increase in pain in 38% of patients, and in 36% of patients the pain did not change after treatment.

3. The subjective feeling of pain in patients with diabetic foot syndrome in the 24-hour time period before and aftersurgical debridement is different because of co-existing factors; most commonly ischemia, peripheral neuropathy, and infection.