Objective

To investigate the clinical effect of spinal cord electrical stimulator implantation in the treatment of a diabetic foot (DF).

Materials and Methods

We recruited 19 patients with DF who were admitted to Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between January 2018 and May 2020. All the patients were treated with spinal cord electrical stimulator implantation. Skin temperature, degree of pain, quality of life (QOL) score, limb (toe) preservation, and nerve conduction velocity of the patients were compared pre- and postoperatively.

Results

The diameter and peak velocity of multisegment arteries in the lower limbs had significantly increased post surgery. Foot skin temperature significantly increased in patients with good effect. The postoperative visual analog scale score of the patients was significantly lower than that noted preoperatively (p < 0.05). The conduction velocities of the lower limb sensory nerves (eg, superficial peroneal nerve and sural nerve) and motor nerves (eg, common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve) had improved post surgery. Moreover, patients' QOL score had significantly improved postoperatively (p < 0.05). The limb (toe) salvage rate was 94.74%.

Conclusion

The implantation of a spinal cord electrical stimulator for treating DF can effectively relieve pain and other associated symptoms. Additionally, this device can promote nerve function recovery and lower limb blood supply and reduce the risk of toe amputation; therefore, it is clinically effective and should be considered in the treatment of DF.