Shockwave diabetic foot therapy first in Australia

In an Australian first, The Townsville Hospital is treating diabetic foot ulcers using shockwave therapies as part of a research grant aimed at reducing diabetic limb
amputation.

Research lead and Townsville Hospital diabetes and endocrinology staff specialist Associate Professor Usman Malabu said diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) were a serious
complication for people suffering diabetes.

“A foot ulcer occurs when an area of skin has broken down and you can see the underlying tissue. Skin normally heals quickly if it is cut; however, in some people with diabetes poor
circulation results in poor healing leaving the area prone to developing an ulcer,” Dr Malabu said.

“The wound can sometimes become infected and, if not treated early enough, can lead to amputation.”

Dr Malabu said DFU was the cause of more than 80 per cent of diabetic lower limb amputations.

“Compared to Australian major cities, people in regional Australia are 11 times more likely to have diabetes-related amputations than those in metropolitan areas,” he said.

“Our research will look at how to effectively manage foot ulcers and reduce hospital admissions and could substantially reduce the cost of diabetes care to hospitals.”
Dr Malabu said the research would change the way diabetic foot ulcers are managed Australia wide.

“Shockwave therapy is the newest technology in foot ulcer treatment and has shown to be superior in wound healing compared to other standard therapies,” Dr Malabu said.

“The non-invasive therapy involves sending shockwaves to the wound to stimulate healing, increasing the speed and quality of recovery.

“Despite the name, shockwave is a term that describes a rapid increase in pressure, rather than an electrical shock.”

The research is part of a research grant from Townsville HHS' Study Education and Research Trust Account (SERTA) and Queensland Health’s New Technology Funding Evaluation Program (NTFEP).