Lipogems® Helps Heal Complex Diabetic Foot Wound
Alessandro Torre, Laura De Pellegrin, Marta Teglas, Marco De Monti · American Journal of Surgery and Clinical Case Reports · 2022
Patient Avoids Amputation Despite Severe Heel Fracture
Diabetic foot ulcers combined with bone fractures present one of the most challenging medical situations. This case report describes how a 61-year-old woman with diabetes avoided losing her leg. She had developed a deep heel ulcer that led to a spontaneous fracture of her calcaneus (heel bone). The medical team used multiple advanced treatments, including Lipogems® micro-fragmented adipose tissue, to achieve complete healing.
Deep Ulcer Caused Bone Infection and Fracture
The patient first noticed a small blister on her left heel after wearing new shoes. Over the following weeks, despite initial treatment, the wound worsened significantly. It grew to three centimeters wide and extended deep enough to reach the bone. Imaging revealed a fracture of the heel bone caused by infection rather than injury. Blood tests confirmed serious infection with bacteria found in the bone itself. This condition, called osteomyelitis, often leads to amputation in diabetic patients.
Treatment Combined Multiple Regenerative Approaches
The medical team used a step-by-step strategy to save the patient's leg:
Wound cleansing: Special vacuum therapy with antiseptic solution reduced bacteria
Improved blood flow: A procedure opened blocked arteries in her leg
Bone surgery: Surgeons removed infected bone and stabilized the ankle joint
Skin regeneration: A dermal template helped rebuild lost tissue layers
Lipogems® injection: Micro-fragmented fat tissue was injected around the wound edges
The Lipogems® treatment used the patient's own fat tissue, collected from her abdomen and sides. This autologous (from your own body) approach provides natural regenerative cells including pericytes and mesenchymal stem cells that support healing.
Complete Healing Achieved Within Twenty Months
The combination of treatments led to remarkable results. The patient's wound healed completely over a twenty-month period. She regained the ability to walk independently without assistance devices. X-rays at the end of treatment showed stable bone structure. This outcome represents a significant success given that many similar cases result in partial or complete limb amputation.
Fat-Derived Cells May Boost Difficult Wound Healing
The authors highlight Lipogems® as part of "the most advanced regenerative surgical procedures" available today. When combined with skin grafting and dermal templates, micro-fragmented adipose tissue can enhance the body's natural repair processes. The fat tissue contains regenerative cells that support blood vessel formation and tissue rebuilding. These properties make it particularly valuable for wounds that struggle to heal on their own.
Important Considerations for Similar Cases
This case report describes one patient's successful outcome. While encouraging, single case reports cannot predict results for all patients. The treatment required multiple surgeries over nearly two years. Success depended on controlling infection, restoring blood flow, and addressing bone damage alongside the regenerative therapies. Patients with diabetic foot ulcers should discuss all treatment options with their medical team. Factors like blood sugar control, circulation status, and infection severity all influence which approaches may work best.
The combination of established surgical techniques with newer regenerative treatments like Lipogems® offers hope for patients facing potentially limb-threatening diabetic foot complications.
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Source: Torre et al., American Journal of Surgery and Clinical Case Reports, 2022.
Original Publication
Soft Tissue Reconstruction Strategy of Spontaneous Calcaneal Fracture in a Patient with Diabetic Penetrating Foot Ulcer
Alessandro Torre, Laura De Pellegrin, Marta Teglas, Marco De Monti · American Journal of Surgery and Clinical Case Reports · 2022
Background: Spontaneous pathologic fractures of the calcaneum in diabetic patients are rarely described in the literature. The pathologic fractures following osteomyelitis represent a possibly limb-threatening condition and if associated with a concomitant calcaneal ulcer, they present defiance for the surgeon and furthermore an outstandingly challenging condition to handle. Methods: A 61-year-old diabetic female patient on insulin therapy has been treated for a penetrating foot ulcer. In sequence the following procedures were carried out: Negative pressure wound therapy with instillation and dwell time (NPWTi-d), Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), arterial percutaneous angioplasty (PTA), calcanectomy and temporary arthrodesis, application of Dermal Regeneration Template (DRT) and transplantation of microfractured autologous adipose graft (LIPOGEMS®), treatment of residual dehiscence with physical cold plasma (kINPen®MED). Results: The patient completely healed within 20 months and was able to walk without further aids. Conclusion: The authors point to the promptness within the treatment of pathologic calcaneal fractures, whether throughout the usage of technical devices targeting the reduction of the bacterial load and stimulation of healthy tissue, like in NPWTi-d and kINPen®MED. The use of a dermal regeneration template followed by skin grafting enriched with autologous microfractured adipose tissue (LIPOGEMS®), therefore represents today the most advanced regenerative surgical procedures.