The effect of foot positioning on tissue oxygenation in diabetic foot ulcers.

AIM: This study evaluated the effect of foot positioning on tissue oxygenation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

METHODS

A randomized clinical trial was conducted from February to July 2025. Sixty hospitalized patients with diabetic foot ulcers were recruited by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the control group (supine position) or the intervention group (15°foot elevation for 24 h). Physiological outcomes including transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2), ankle-brachial index (ABI), toe-brachial index (TBI), toe pressure (TP) were measured before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

TcPO2 increased in the intervention group (5.26 ± 6.02 mmHg) but decreased in the control group (-5.6 ± 7.3 mmHg, p = 0.027). ABI improved in the intervention group (0.14 ± 0.22) compared with the control group (-0.11 ± 0.15, p = 0.002). TBI increased (0.17 ± 0.21 vs. - 0.14 ± 0.20, p = 0.008), and TP rose significantly (18.5 ± 23.4 mmHg vs. - 15 ± 22 mmHg, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION

Elevating the foot with an ulcer at 15° for 24 h is a simple, low-cost, and non-invasive intervention that improves tissue oxygenation, enhances circulation. It can be incorporated into both hospital and home care as nursing practice for diabetic foot ulcer management.