Conservative management of the ulcerated diabetic foot.

Four cases are presented of the conservative treatment of the diabetic foot. Using the known principles of wound healing and of management of soft tissue infection, the obviously necrotic or infected tissue was debrided and the wounds were managed conservatively. The use of such debriding adjuncts as a pulsating jet lavage, topical antibacterials, and biological dressings, has controlled infections--so that the foot wounds could be closed then with sking grafts or local flaps. This resulted in the salvage of these feet, with maintenance of biped ambulation.